[Manual acupuncture versus electroacupuncture for menopausal syndrome:a randomized controlled trial]

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

• Menopausal syndrome significantly impacts women's quality of life.
• Acupuncture is a traditional therapy explored for managing menopausal symptoms.
• Comparing manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) provides insights into their therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical therapeutic effects and safety of manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) for menopausal symptoms.
• To evaluate the impact of MA and EA on psychological well-being and quality of life in menopausal women.
• To assess the influence of MA and EA on key reproductive hormone levels.

Main Methods:

• Fifty patients were randomized into MA and EA groups.
• Both groups received acupuncture at specific acupoints (Guanyuan, Zigong, Tianshu, Sanyinjiao) for 8 weeks.
• Outcomes measured included Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL), anxiety/depression scales (SAS/SDS), and hormone levels (FSH, LH, E2).

Main Results:

• Both MA and EA significantly reduced MRS, MENQOL, SAS, and SDS scores after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment.
• No significant differences were observed between MA and EA groups in symptom improvement.
• Hormone levels (FSH, LH, E2) showed no significant changes between groups or compared to baseline.

Conclusions:

• Manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture demonstrate comparable efficacy in alleviating menopausal symptoms, including psychological distress.
• Both acupuncture techniques improve the quality of life for women experiencing menopausal syndrome.
• Neither MA nor EA induced significant alterations in serological sex hormone levels or severe adverse reactions.