Department of Midwifery and Reproductive, Nursing Care Research Center (NCRC), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Rashid Yasemi st., Valiasr St, Tehran, 1996713883, Iran.
Trials. 2021 Sep 26;22(1):655. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05622-w.
Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is the most common complaint in young women and adolescents. Side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can limit their use. Therefore, non-pharmacological pain relief methods such as auriculotherapy may play an important role in PD management. This study was conducted to compare the effect of auriculotherapy and mefenamic acid on the severity and systemic symptoms of PD.
In a randomized clinical trial, 83 students were randomized into two groups. In the auriculotherapy group, electrical stimulation of the ear was conducted once a week for two menstrual cycles. In each cycle close to menstruation, ear seeds were inserted on pressure points to be pressed in times of pain. In the mefenamic acid group, subjects took mefenamic acid capsules upon seeing the initial symptoms of menstruation until the pain reduces. The primary outcomes were mean pain intensity and systemic symptoms associated with it. Pain intensity was measured through the visual analog scale (VAS) and the verbal multidimensional scoring system (VMS). Systemic symptoms were assessed using VMS, as well as the yes/no question form.
Mean pain intensity with the VAS was significantly lower in the auriculotherapy group than the mefenamic acid group in the first and second cycles of intervention. There was a significant difference in VMS grade between both groups during the second cycle of intervention. In terms of the systemic symptoms in the second cycle of intervention, no subjects had dysmenorrhea grade 3 (common systemic symptoms) in the auriculotherapy group. Whereas in the mefenamic acid group, 16.7% of the subjects still had dysmenorrhea grade 3. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of systemic symptoms of PD. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of fatigue and diarrhea in both groups. However, there was a significant reduction in the frequency of nausea, headache, and anger in the auriculotherapy group.
Mean pain intensity with the VAS was lower with the auriculotherapy. Also, 65.9% of auriculotherapy group subjects were in the dysmenorrhea grades 0 and 1. Therefore, auriculotherapy is recommended because of its fewer complications and more effect on PD.
ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT20181207041873N1. Registered on February 24, 2019. https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/35967/view.
原发性痛经（PD）是年轻女性和青少年最常见的抱怨。非甾体抗炎药的副作用可能会限制其使用。因此，耳穴疗法等非药物止痛方法可能在 PD 管理中发挥重要作用。本研究旨在比较耳穴疗法和甲芬那酸对 PD 严重程度和全身症状的影响。
在一项随机临床试验中，83 名学生被随机分为两组。在耳穴疗法组中，每周进行一次耳部电刺激，持续两个月经周期。在每个接近月经周期的周期中，将耳豆插入压痛点，在疼痛时按压。在甲芬那酸组中，受试者在出现月经初潮的初始症状后服用甲芬那酸胶囊，直到疼痛减轻。主要结局是平均疼痛强度和与之相关的全身症状。疼痛强度通过视觉模拟量表（VAS）和口头多维评分系统（VMS）进行测量。全身症状通过 VMS 以及是/否问题表进行评估。
在干预的第一和第二个周期中，耳穴疗法组的 VAS 平均疼痛强度明显低于甲芬那酸组。在干预的第二个周期中，两组 VMS 分级有显著差异。就干预的第二个周期中的全身症状而言，耳穴疗法组无 1 例出现痛经 3 级（常见全身症状）。而在甲芬那酸组中，16.7%的受试者仍有痛经 3 级。两组 PD 全身症状的发生频率无显著差异。两组疲劳和腹泻的发生频率均显著降低。然而，耳穴疗法组恶心、头痛和愤怒的发生频率显著降低。
VAS 平均疼痛强度较低。此外，耳穴疗法组 65.9%的受试者处于痛经 0 级和 1 级。因此，由于其并发症较少，对 PD 的效果较好，推荐使用耳穴疗法。
ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT20181207041873N1. 注册于 2019 年 2 月 24 日。https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/35967/view.
