Electric Awn Needle Clinical Randomized Controlled Study For The Treatment Of Female Climacteric Syndrome

ObjectivesObserved the clinical effectiveness and safety of treating menopausal syndrome(MS) with electro-acupuncture and elongated needle, and non-acupuncture points shallow needling.MethodUsing clinical research standard methods, As an acupuncture randomized controlled trial, we randomly separated patient into two groups. One group received electro-acupuncture and elongated needle treatments. Acupoints:Guanyuan(CV4), Tianshu(ST25), Zigong(EX-CAI) and Sanyinjiao(SP6). The Tianshu(ST25) and Zigong(EX-CAI) were connected to a pair od electrodes. During the electro-acupuncture and elongated needle treatment, the whole abdomen should experience extraordinary needling sensation. And the control group received a sham acupuncture that Nonacupionts near to Guanyuan(CV4), Tianshu(ST25), Zigong(EX-CAI), Sanyinjiao(SP6) and shallow needling. As we all know, acupuncture has typicallu been tested in trials that evaluate subjective, outcomes such as pain. Therefore, controlling for "placebo effects" by using a sham acupuncture control group is important in trials of acupuncture. Themenopauseratingscale and the Menopause-specific quality of life was adopted toevaluate the therapentic effect before treatment, after4weeks treatment and after8weeks for each group.Results1. Evaluation of MRS:After4weeks, the treatment group brings difference of4.80±3.86, the control group brings difference of-0.82±6.19. The difference was statistically significant (P <0.01). After8weeks, the treatment group brings difference of8.47±5.13, the control group brings difference of-1.31±4.77. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).The treatment group brings out a significant effect on the improvement of clinical symptoms after treatment. However, the control group showed little effectiveness. The treatment group clearly showed better than the control group(P<0.05).2. Effects on MENQOL:After4weeks, the treatment group brings difference of21.47±11.96, the control group brings difference of-4.19±9.5632. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). After8weeks, the treatment group brings difference of32.13±17.72, the control group brings difference of-4.19±16.40. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).Both the first and the second course of treatment, the treatment group improved the quality of life, while the other group did not.3. The menopausal symptom improvement of MRS:The treatment group improved fatigue symptoms better than the control group both the first and the second course. The second course was better than the first couse, and the difference was statistically signidicant (P<0.05). Sleep disorders, depression, joint and muscle symptoms, anxiety symptoms and secual problems were improved both courses in the treatment group which is much better than the control group, and there were no difference between4weeks and8weeks. Only experienced8weeks, the treatment group could be better than the control group on hot flashes, sweating, irritability symptoms and bladder problems. There were no difference between the two groups on the heart discomfort and symptoms of vaginal dryness.4.The data that two groups of base-line materials before treating have no difference(P>0.05). The two groups showed different effectiveness on treatment. The electro-acupuncture and elongated needle group gained success on Menopausal Syndrome with a rate of66.7%after4weeks, which is much better than the control group(P<0.01). Futher more, after8weeks treatment the electro-acupuncture and elongated needle group total effective rate is86.7%, versus0%in control group. And the difference was significant(P<0.01). The treatment group can significantlu lower MRS.ConclusionThe treatment group brings out a significant effect on the improvement of clinical symptoms after treatment. Furthermore, the treatment group can improve the quality of life. And the therapy is safe and reliable.