The trial aims to evaluate the effect of manual acupuncture versus transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in treating primary dysmenorrhea.
According to systematic reviews,manual acupuncture(MA) and high frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation(TENS) had certain therapeutic effects on primary dysmenorrhea respectively. In this trial, 84 patients with primary dysmenorrhea will be recruited and randomly allocated into MA group and TENS group. Patients in MA group will receive treatment at acupoints of Shiqizhui(EX-B8), Ciliao(BL 32),Diji(SP 8) and Sanyinjiao(SP 6) and those in TENS group will receive treatment at the area along the lower borders of the ribs and the upper borders of the hip crests on both sides. All patients, both in EA group and TENS group, will be treated in their first day of dysmenorrhea, once a day for three consecutive days. And the treatments will last for three consecutive menstrual cycles.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
84
Huatuo Brand needles (0.30×25mm,0.30×40mm or 0.30×75mm) will be used.Participants will receive manual acupuncture for 30 minutes each time.After acupuncture,we will twist the needles every 10 minutes for about 30 seconds.The patients will be treated in their first day of dysmenorrhea, once a day for three consecutive days. And the treatments will last for three consecutive menstrual cycles.
Huatuo Brand electrode patch (50mm×50mm) and the SDZ-V EA apparatus (Suzhou Medical Appliance) will be used.Participants will receive transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation for 30 minutes each time.They will be treated in their first day of dysmenorrhea, once a day for three consecutive days. And the treatments will last for three consecutive menstrual cycles.
Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
RECRUITINGThe proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in mean pain intensity from baseline.
The pain intensity was measured by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), which is a valid measure of pain intensity with scores from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).Participants will be asked to rate their mean pain intensity on the days with pain during the third menstruation by selecting a single number from 0 to 10.The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in mean pain intensity from baseline.
Time frame: Baseline;At the end of menstrual period of Cycle 3(each menstrual period is about 3-7 days,each cycle is about 28 days)
Change of mean pain intensity from baseline measured by NRS.
The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) is a valid measure of pain intensity with scores from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).Participants will be asked to rate their mean pain intensity on the days with pain during the menstruation by selecting a single number from 0 to 10.The outcome is the changed number of numerical rating scale(NRS)of mean pain intensity on the days with pain during the menstruation compared with baseline.
Time frame: Baseline;At the end of menstrual period of Cycle 1,Cycle 2,Cycle 3 and Cycle 6(each menstrual period is about 3-7 days,each cycle is about 28 days)
Change of the most severe pain intensity measured by NRS.
The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) is a valid measure of pain intensity with scores from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).Participants will be asked to rate their worst pain intensity during the menstruation by selecting a single number from 0 to 10.The outcome is the changed number of numerical rating scale(NRS)of worst pain intensity during the menstruation compared with baseline.
Time frame: Baseline;At the end of menstrual period of Cycle 1,Cycle 2,Cycle 3 and Cycle 6(each menstrual period is about 3-7 days,each cycle is about 28 days)
Change of Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale(CMSS)
CMSS is a tool for evaluating patients' symptom integrally which consists of 17 items or symptoms.In severity evaluation,each symptom is scored in five levels: 0 represent symptoms not noticeable;1, slightly bothersome;2, moderate bothersome; 3, severely bothersome;4, very severely bothersome. In the duration of the evaluation,each variable is scored in five grades by the retained time of symptom: 0 score denote did not occur;1, lasted less than 3h; 2, lasted 3 to 7h;3, lasted an entire day;and 4, lasted several days.
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Time frame: Baseline;At the end of menstrual period of Cycle 1,Cycle 2,Cycle 3 and Cycle 6(each menstrual period is about 3-7 days,each cycle is about 28 days)
Change of sick leave from baseline
Sick leave(the days of absence from work or school due to menstrual pain) will be recorded by participates.
Time frame: Baseline;At the end of menstrual period of Cycle 1,Cycle 2,Cycle 3 and Cycle 6(each menstrual period is about 3-7 days,each cycle is about 28 days)
Change of pain duration from baseline
Participates will be asked to record the pain duration(number of days with pain) in the menstrual period.
Time frame: Baseline;At the end of menstrual period of Cycle 1,Cycle 2,Cycle 3 and Cycle 6(each menstrual period is about 3-7 days,each cycle is about 28 days)