title: Effects of LI-4 and SP-6 Acupuncture on Labor Pain, Cortisol Level and Duration of Labor.
abstract: Nowadays, acupuncture is widely used to manage pain, and childbirth is a condition requiring appropriate pain management interventions. The efficacy of acupuncture in the management of labor pain has recently been studied, but the results are not satisfactory and conflicts exist. In this study, we investigated the effects of acupuncture on labor pain, serum cortisol level, and duration of labor. We conducted a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial that included 63 nulliparous women: 32 in the study group and 31 in the control group. Acupuncture was performed at the SP-6 and the LI-4 points in the study group, and sham acupuncture was performed at the same points in the control group. Pain scores and serum cortisol levels were measured before and after the intervention. Changes in these measures and in the duration of labor were compared between the groups. No significant variations in pain scores or serum cortisol levels were observed between the two control groups. However, the duration of labor was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the group receiving real acupuncture. Our results show that acupuncture is significantly associated with a decreased duration of labor, even though it was no better than a placebo for the treatment of labor pain.
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asadi
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Najmeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maharlouei
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran. Electronic address: azadehkhalili80@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
authors.forename: Yalda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Darabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davoodi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raeisi Shahraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadjavad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadianfard
authors.affiliation: Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jokar
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Homeira
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vafaei
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasraeian
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: acupuncture; cortisol; labor pain