Research Article

Electroacupuncture is Beneficial for Primary Dysmenorrhea: The Evidence from Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Table 1

Main characteristics of included RCTs.

StudySample sizeEAControlDurationOutcome

Liu et al., 2011E: 49
C1: 49
C2: 48
C3: 48
at SP6, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
0.5–1.6 mA, HANS-200
C1: at GB39, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C2: nonacupoints, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C3: waiting-list
Once/day, for 3 daysVAS, VRS, RSS

Liu et al., 2014E: 167
C1: 167
C2: 167
at SP6, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
0.5–1.6 mA, HANS-200
C1: at GB39, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C2: nonacupoints, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
Once/day, for 3 daysVAS, VRS, RSS

Liu, 2016E: 50
C: 50
at ST34 and ST36, 30 min
G6805-2
C: Tianqi Tongjing Capsule5 days/MC, for 3 MCsCurative rate

Ma et al., 2010E1: 13
C1: 14
C2: 12
C3: 13
at SP6, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
HANS-200
C1: at GB39, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C2: nonacupoints, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C3: waiting-list
Once/day, for 3 daysVAS, VRS, RSS,
uterine arteries hemodynamics

Ren and Zhuang, 2010E: 30
C: 30
at SP6 and BL32, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
2–5 mA, G6805-B
C: ibuprofen 600 mg/day5 days/MC, for 3 MCsCurative rate,
uterine arteries hemodynamics

Shi et al., 2011E1: 10
C1: 10
C2: 10
C3: 10
at SP6, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
LH202H
C1: at GB39, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C2: nonacupoints, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C3: waiting-list
1 dayVAS, plasm PG

Song et al., 2015E1: 163
C1: 165
C2: 164
at SP6, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
HANS-200
C1: at GB39, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C2: nonacupoints, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
Once/day, for 3 daysVAS, RSS

Xin et al., 2014E1: 125
C1: 123
C2: 120
at SP6, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
HANS-200
C1: at GB39, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
C2: nonacupoints, 2/100 Hz, 30 min
1 dayVAS

Zhi, 2007E: 57
C: 57
at SP6, 60 Hz, 30 min
G6805-2A
Ibuprofen 600 mg/day5 days/MC, for 3 MCsCurative rate

E: experimental group; C: control group; MC: menstrual cycle; VAS: visual analogue scale; VRS: verbal rating scale; RSS: retrospective symptom scale.