Table 1 Characteristics of the 19 Trials Identified in the Literature Search
Studies | Randomization Method | Sample Size Intervention/Control | Age(I/C) | Intervention | Outcomes | Time of initiation of acupoint-stimulation and Course of Treatment | Follow-up Visit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intervention group | Control group | Primary | Secondary | ||||||
Zhang LM et al. (2012) [22] | Random number table | 45/45 | 13–27/11–25 | Acupuncture at SP 10 SP 6 CV 6 LI 4 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | N/A | The treatment started 3 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 3 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Lin Q et al. (2012) [23] | Random number table | 80/60 | 15–30/15–30 | Eye acupuncture at the lower-jiao area; liver area; kidney area; the liver area; the heart area; the spleen area | Ibuprofen | Clinical efficacy | Uterine artery blood flow signals | The treatment started 5 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 4–5 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Hu YL et al. (2012) [18] | Random number table | 60/50 | 15–30/15–29 | Eye acupuncture at the lower-jiao area; liver area; kidney area; the liver area; the heart area; the spleen area | Ibuprofen | Clinical efficacy | PGF2α+ recurrence rate | The treatment started 2 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 4–5 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 6 months |
Cao Y et al. (2011) [24] | Random number table | 29/30 | 15–29/20–28 | Acupuncture at EX-B8 SP 8 BL 32 | Ibuprofen | Clinical efficacy | symptom score+ VAS + side effects | The treatment started during the menstrual period, once every day and was given for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Zhi LX et al. (2007) [25] | SPSS Random number | 60/60 | 19.60 ± 3.20/18.93 ± 2.60 | Superficial needling at SP 6 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | symptom score+ analgesic time | The treatment started 3 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 5 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Bo LN et al. (2013) [26] | Random number table | 69/64 | 13–35 | Moxibustion at CV 4 CV 8 SP 6 | Fenbid | N/A | VAS + COX + PGF2α + OT + side effects | The treatment started 7 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 7 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Ren XL et al. (2013) [27] | Registration order | 40/40 | 16–28/18–27 | Moxibustion at CV 4 SP 6 | Ibuprofen | Clinical efficacy | PGF2α | The treatment started 3 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 6 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Zhu Y et al. (2010) [28] | Random number table | 51/51 | 18–26/19–25 | Sandwiched moxibustion at CV 8 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | symptom score +side effects | The treatment started 3 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 5 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Li JM et al. (2012) [29] | Random number table | 30/30 | 19–30 | Electroacupuncture at BL 32 | Fenbid | Clinical efficacy | symptom score | The treatment started during the menstrual period, once every day and was given for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Wang K et al. (2005) [30] | Random number table | 30/28 | 16–28/15–24 | Ear acupoint at TF 2 CO 18 CO 10 CO 12 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | N/A | The treatment started 3 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 6 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Yang M et al. (2009) [31] | Random number table | 36/36 | 14–28/13–27 | Acupoint application at CV 4 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | N/A | The treatment started 2 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 4 days for 6 menstrual cycles | 6 months |
Chen LW et al. (2006) [32] | Random number table | 30/28 | 16–28/15–24 | Acupoint application at CV 4 CV 3 CV 6 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | N/A | The treatment started 7 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 10 days for 3 menstrual cycles | N/A |
Liu C et al. (2011) [33] | Random number table | 40/40 | 21.22 ± 5.86/20.96 ± 6.12 | Moxibustion at CV 4 EX-B8 | Fenbid | Clinical efficacy | symptom score | The treatment started 7 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 10 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Zhu C et al. (2011) [34] | Random number table | 20/20 | 17–28/18–27 | Acupuncture at CV 4 CV 3 SP 10 SP 8 LI 4 LI 11 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | N/A | The treatment started 7 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 7 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Li ZL et al. (2012) [35] | Random number table | 100/100 | 13–30/14–35 | Acupoint application at CV 3 CV 8 BL 32 SP 6 | Ibuprofen | Clinical efficacy | symptom score | The treatment started 7 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 9 days for 6 menstrual cycles | 6 months |
Gurkan K et al. (2013) [19] | Registration order | 11/24 | 13.1 ± 1.0/12.8 ± 0.9 | Acupuncture at HT 7 PC 6 LI 4 LI 10 SP 6 LR 3 ST 36 GB 26 SP 15 | Naproxen sodium | N/A | VAS | The treatment was given three times on the 5th and 2nd days prior to the expected menstruation date and on the third day of menstruation for 1 month | N/A |
Jiang LY (2007) [36] | Registration order | 34/34 | 19.35 ± 4.33/20.55 ± 4.51 | Acupuncture at BL31 BL32 BL33 LI 3 SP 6 SP 8 CV 4 ST 36 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | N/A | The treatment started 4 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 7 days for 3 menstrual cycles | N/A |
Xing QX (2011) [37] | Registration order | 60/54 | 15–27/16–32 | Pricking bloodletting at the liver area;kidney area; the liver area;the uterus area; HT 7 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | N/A | The treatment started during the menstrual period, once every day and was given for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |
Ji L et al. (2012) [38] | Random number table | 30/30 | 22 ± 3/22 ± 2 | Sandwiched moxibustion at CV 8 | Indometacin | Clinical efficacy | symptom score+ PGF2α + PGE2 | The treatment started 3 days before menstrual onset, once every day and was given for 6 days for 3 menstrual cycles | 3 months |