Open Access

ARTICLE

Acupuncture for female bladder pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Larissa Bresler^1,2, Lauren C. Westbay², Lauren Hekman³, Cara Joyce⁴, Colleen M. Fitzgerald^2,5

1 Department of Urology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
3 Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
4 Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
5 Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Lauren Westbay, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South 1st Avenue, Maywood, IL 60156 USA

Canadian Journal of Urology 2022, 29(3), 11154-11161.

Abstract

Introduction: Growing evidence supports acupuncture for several pain conditions including chronic prostatitis. This study aimed to determine the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing pain in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).
Materials and methods: This prospective randomized single-blinded study compared electro-acupuncture (EA) to minimal acupuncture (MA) after 6 weekly treatments and again after 6 weeks of no treatment. Pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (worst pain, average pain, pain severity, pain interference) and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Physical exams evaluated pelvic floor muscle tenderness. Mixed-effects models were used to estimate adjusted means over follow up.
Results: MA (n = 10). There were no adverse events. Both groups’ worst pain improved at 6 weeks, -2.91 ± 0.59 and -2.09 ± 0.68 for EA and MA respectively with no difference between groups (p = 0.37). Results were similar at 12 weeks. The EA group had greater improvement in pain interference at 6 weeks, -3.28 ± 0.51 versus -1.67 ± 0.58 (p = 0.049). The between group difference was not maintained at 12 weeks (p = 0.13). Average pain and pain severity showed no difference between groups (p > 0.05). The PCS improved overall at 6 weeks, -6.2 ± 2.5 (p = 0.03), with no difference between groups (p = 0.39). On physical exam, only the EA group showed a significant decrease in levator ani tenderness (p = 0.031) after treatment.
Conclusions: Both EA and MA showed improvement in worst pain scores, however EA showed greater improvement in pain interference and pelvic floor muscle tenderness in women with IC/BPS.

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