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Updated: Nov 4, 2025
Author Spotlight: Alleviating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy with Safe and Effective Auricular Acupuncture
Published on: August 4, 2023
Auricular acupressure promotes uterine involution after cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial
Shu-Xin Wang1, Jing-Chun Zeng1, Ting Li2
1Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
Postpartum subinvolution of the uterus is a more common condition after cesarean section. Auricular acupressure (AA) is widely used for the treatment of postpartum diseases. However, few studies have explored the effects of AA as a treatment of uterine involution following cesarean section to date. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of AA for uterine involution after cesarean section.
Methods:
A total of 109 women who underwent cesarean section participated in this study. They were randomly allocated to either real AA or sham AA in a 1:1 ratio by a computer program. For 3 days, the real AA and sham AA groups received treatment 3 times daily. A series of assessments at 42 days after cesarean section, namely on the uterine size, the incidence of hydrometra, the first anal exsufflation time, bleeding volume at 6 hours, bleeding volume at 6-24 hours along with other general assessments were carried out.
Results:
A total of 89 women completed the study. The uterine size at 42 days after a cesarean section was 6.3 cm smaller in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.01). The incidence of hydrometra on day 42 postpartum was lower in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.01). The lochia duration and the first anal exsufflation time after cesarean section were shorter in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
AA improves uterine involution after cesarean section.
Trial Registration:
ChiCTR1800015569.
