Urinary Retention in Pregnancy and Puerperium: Acupuncture Treatment

Background: Urinary retention (UR) during pregnancy and postpartum is a common obstetric complication. The accepted method of treatment is catheterization; this is invasive and associated with morbidity and sequelae. There are few uniform protocols for the management of this condition, and most hospitals have implemented their own guidelines. Acupuncture is a widely accepted modality of treatment in Chinese hospitals. It is quite effective and safe. It has not been well accepted globally for treating UR, and this is due to a lack of robust studies involving a large number of patients. Methods: Various studies are reviewed and a case from the author's practice is presented. Conclusions: Acupuncture is an effective and safe alternative to catheterization in for UR associated with pregnancy and postpartum.