Japanese-style acupuncture for endometriosis-related pelvic pain in adolescents and young women: results of a randomized sham-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess feasibility, and collect preliminary data for a subsequent randomized, sham-controlled trial to evaluate Japanese-style acupuncture for reducing chronic pelvic pain and improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents with endometriosis.


METHODS
Randomized, sham-controlled trial.


METHODS
Tertiary-referral hospital.


METHODS
Eighteen young women (13-22y) with laparoscopically-diagnosed endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain.


METHODS
A Japanese style of acupuncture and a sham acupuncture control. Sixteen treatments were administered over 8 weeks.


METHODS
Protocol feasibility, recruitment numbers, pain not associated with menses or intercourse, and multiple HRQOL instruments including Endometriosis Health Profile, Pediatric Quality of Life, Perceived Stress, and Activity Limitation.


RESULTS
Fourteen participants (out of 18 randomized) completed the study per protocol. Participants in the active acupuncture group (n = 9) experienced an average 4.8 (SD = 2.4) point reduction on a 11 point scale (62%) in pain after 4 weeks, which differed significantly from the control group's (n = 5) average reduction of 1.4 (SD = 2.1) points (P = 0.004). Reduction in pain in the active group persisted through a 6-month assessment; however, after 4 weeks, differences between the active and control group decreased and were not statistically significant. All HRQOL measures indicated greater improvements in the active acupuncture group compared to the control; however, the majority of these trends were not statistically significant. No serious adverse events were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary estimates indicate that Japanese-style acupuncture may be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated adjunct therapy for endometriosis-related pelvic pain in adolescents. A more definitive trial evaluating Japanese-style acupuncture in this population is both feasible and warranted.
Wayne
Peter M
PM
Harvard Medical School, Osher Research Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. peter_wayne@hms.harvard.edu
Kerr
Catherine E
CE
Schnyer
Rosa N
RN
Legedza
Anna T R
AT
Savetsky-German
Jacqueline
J
Shields
Monica H
MH
Buring
Julie E
JE
Davis
Roger B
RB
Conboy
Lisa A
LA
Highfield
Ellen
E
Parton
Barbara
B
Thomas
Phaedra
P
Laufer
Marc R
MR
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
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