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Acupuncture for induction of labour.
1Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecolygy, Adelaide University, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, Australia, SA 5006. caroline.anne.smith@adelaide.edu.au
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 2, 2001
Summary
Acupuncture for labor induction is a rising complementary therapy. However, no trials met inclusion criteria, indicating a need for rigorous research on its effectiveness and safety in cervical ripening.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Background:
- Complementary therapies are increasingly used during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Acupuncture, involving fine needle insertion, is a potential option for labor induction.
- Limited observational studies suggest acupuncture may be safe for labor induction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of acupuncture for third-trimester cervical ripening or labor induction.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
- Searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and relevant paper bibliographies.
- Included trials with random allocation, adequate allocation concealment, and clinically meaningful outcomes.
Main Results:
- No trials met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review.
- The evidence base for acupuncture's effectiveness in labor induction is currently lacking.
Conclusions:
- A well-designed randomized controlled trial is necessary to determine the role of acupuncture in labor induction.
- Further research is needed to establish the clinical effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for cervical ripening.