title: [Clinical observation on treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with acupuncture and massage].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture massage for primary dysmenorrhea and its influence on prostaglandin F2alpha level in menstrual fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients with primary dysmenorrhea were assigned equally to the acupuncture group, the massage group and the control group (oral administrated with Somiton tablet). The treatment course was 3 menstrual cycles. The effect in relieving menalgia was evaluated using numerical rating scale (NRS) before and after treatment and change of PGF2alpha content in menstrual fluid was tested as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NRS score was 0.60 +/- 0.67 in the acupuncture group and 0.53 +/- 0.63 in the massage group respectively, significantly lower than that in the control group, which was 2.30 +/- 1.73 (P < 0.01). The PGF2alpha level after treatment was significantly lower in the acupuncture group (176.58 +/- 17.85 ng/L) and the massage group (171.32 +/- 17.15 ng/L) than that in the control group (220.56 +/- 54.47 ng/L), respectively (P <0.01). There showed no difference in the two aspects between the acupuncture group and the massage group (P >0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture and massage has a reliable therapeutic effect on primary dysmenorrhea, which is superior to that of Somiton tablet, and its mechanism might be exerted by regulating PGF2alpha level in menstrual fluid.
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture College of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing.
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Cun-Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bi-Yu
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000378:metabolism; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage
chemical_list: D015237:Dinoprost