The Effect of Acupuncture on Treatment of Patients with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: A Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Associate Professor, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Abnormal uterine bleeding that deviates from the normal pattern or volume has a high prevalence, and it is essential to know the appropriate treatment to reduce this complication. According to studies, one of methods in the treatment of uterine bleeding is acupuncture, which needs more scientific evidence. The present study was conducted with aim to investigate the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.
Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted in 2022-2024 on 38 patients referred to the gynecology clinic of Mashhad Medical Sciences Teaching Hospitals. The patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group (drug treatment and acupuncture) (n=19) and the control group (drug treatment without acupuncture) (n=19). In the control group, drug treatment with hormone therapy was performed for 3 months, and in the intervention group, in addition to drug treatment, acupuncture treatment was performed for 12 sessions over a period of 3 months. Then, the menstrual cycle pattern was compared in the patients of the two groups. Data analysis was performed using GPOWER statistical software (version 3.1) and the chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney tests. P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: In the study of the therapeutic outcomes of acupuncture in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, there was no difference between the two study groups in the frequency of menstrual cycles 3 months after treatment (p=0.863) and 6 months after treatment (p=0.729), duration of bleeding 3 months after treatment (p=0.339) and 6 months after treatment (p=0.418), and severity of bleeding 3 months after treatment (p=1) and 6 months after treatment (p=1).
Conclusion: No strog evidence was found in favor of the effect of acupuncture on improving the conditions of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.

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References

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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 28, Issue 11
January 2026
Pages 11-19

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