Immediate Effect of Acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Xuanzhong (GB39) on Uterine Arterial Blood Flow in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to compare immediate effect of acupuncture at SP6 on uterine arterial blood flow in primary dysmenorrhea with that of GB39. Design: This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial. Setting: Sixty-six (66) patients with primary dysmenorrhea from the Affiliated Hospital of Shangdong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited. Interventions: The SP6 group (n = 32) was treated with manual acupuncture at bilateral SP6 for 5 minutes after obtaining needling sensation (de qi) during the period of menstrual pain, whereas the control group (n = 34) was needled at GB39 of both sides for 5 minutes when they suffered menstrual pain. Main outcome measures: Differences in pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and ratio of systolic peak and diastolic peak (A/B) in uterine arteries were the main outcome measures. Results: Highly significant reductions were observed in the SP6 treatment group 5 minutes after treatment in menstrual pain scores (8...