Acupuncture for Endometriosis: A Case Study

Background: Endometriosis is the cause of chronic pelvic pain in 70% of all chronic pelvic pain cases in women in the United States. Traditional Chinese Medicine may present either an adjunct or optional treatment for women with chronic pelvic pain due to endometriosis. Objective: To detail possible effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on pelvic pain secondary to endometriosis through presentation of a single case. Design, Setting, Patient: A nulliparous 43-year-old woman presented with endometriosis and fibroids. The patient was treated twice weekly for a 6-month period in a Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic in Berkley, CA. Treatment included 6 months of acupuncture at the following points: CV 3, 4, and 5; ST 25 and 36; GV 20; LI 4; LV 3; KI 3; SP 6 and 9; and Zi Gong Xue and Ah Shi points along with 1 month of herbal treatment in the form of both tea and tea pills. Intervention: Acupuncture and herbal formulas. Main Outcome Measures: Decrease in pain level and symptoms measured by patient assessed value of pain through the Pain Quality Assessment Scale. Results: Patient overall disposition and pain level improved for a 6-month period. Conclusions: Acupuncture did have some positive effect on pain management.