Effectiveness of Auriculotherapy on Pain after Vaginal and Cesarean Delivery: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials with Control Group and Analgesic Mechanisms

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 PhD Candidate in Reproductive Health, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

3 PhD of Reproductive Health, Clinical Research Development Center, Motazedi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

4 M.Sc. of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

10.22038/ijogi.2025.87593.6422

Abstract

Introduction: In the first days of postpartum period, effective pain management has been shown to positively impact mother's positive attitude toward delivery, child care, and daily activities. Since chemical treatments have side effects for mother and baby, the resent study was conducted with aim to review clinical trials conducted on the effect of auriculotherapy on postpartum pain.
Methods: To investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on postpartum pain, all English-language clinical trial studies were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochran Library and Google Scholar databases from 2000 to August 2024. The search terms encompassed the following keywords: vaginal postpartum pain, cesarean section postpartum pain, external ear stimulation, auriculotherapy, ear acupressure, and ear acupuncture, which were combined with the Boolean operators OR and AND. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Jonah Briggs Institute Clinical Trials Study Validation Tool, and results were reported qualitatively.
Results: According to the searches, 415 studies were found and 11 studies with a sample size of 1362 participants from Iran, China, India, Thailand, USA and Germany were selected according to the study objective. Most studies showed a significant reduction in pain intensity and analgesic consumption in the auriculotherapy group compared to the control group. Also, no specific side effects were reported in most studies.
Conclusion: Auriculotherapy can be used as an effective, uncomplicated, and accessible alternative to chemical treatments to enhance the quality of life in the initial days following delivery.

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Main Subjects

References

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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 28, Issue 7
September 2025
Pages 59-76

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