title: A randomized pilot study of acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy in primary dysmenorrhea patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five young women with a diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea were recruited for the study. Their dysmenorrhea severity was rated by visual analog scale (VAS) immediately prior to entry into the study. They were randomly divided into two groups; and the following month they were given NSAID (group 1, n=24) or acupuncture treatment (group 2, n=11). Pain was rated again using VAS during menstruation in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After one month's treatment, pain scores were significantly lower in both groups (p<0.05). Mean pain scores decreased by 52.2% and 69.5% in the NSAID and acupuncture groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture was as effective as NSAID therapy for patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Since this was a pilot study with a small sample size and short follow-up period, larger studies are needed to clarify the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. gurkankiran@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: Yakup
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gumusalan
authors.forename: Hasan C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ekerbicer
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Deniz C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Arikan
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal