Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places. The main symptoms are pelvic pain, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, sexual discomfort and abnormal menstruation.

One systematic review found few randomised, blinded clinical trials have addressed the efficacy of acupuncture in treating endometriosis-related pain. Nonetheless, the current literature suggests that acupuncture reduces pain and serum CA-125 levels, regardless of the control intervention used.

Xu Y, Zhao W, Li T, Zhao Y, Bu H, Song S. Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186616. Published 2017 Oct 27. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186616