ReviewJournal of pain research2025
Clinical Evidence of Acupoint Stimulation for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis.
Review in Journal of pain research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Clinical evidence on integrated Chinese-Western medicine for primary dysmenorrhea.Integrative medicine research · 2026Article
- Clinical Evidence of Acupoint Stimulation for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis [Letter].Journal of pain research · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Purpose: Meridian-based acupoint stimulation is increasingly used for primary dysmenorrhea (PD), yet its evidence remains inconsistent. This systematic review aims to evaluate efficacy and safety of both invasive and noninvasive acupoint stimulation for PD through analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42024586857. PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Scopus, VIP Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database were searched up to May 20, 2024. Methodological quality was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias, version 2 tool. Data were synthesized using random-effects models and presented with forest plots. The primary outcomes were assessed based on pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or effective rates, and safety measured by adverse reaction rates. The secondary outcomes included self-reported symptoms and quality of life, uterine hemodynamics, and serum prostaglandin contents. Results: A total of 22 eligible RCTs with 1955 participants (range 44 to 216) were included. Compared with no treatment or sham treatment, acupoint stimulation demonstrated moderate pain reduction (standardized mean difference [SMD] -2.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] -4.39 to -1.53). Compared with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acupoint stimulation showed both immediate effects (post-first-treatment SMD -2.85, 95% CI -4.06 to -1.64) and sustained benefits (3 cycles SMD -1.58, 95% CI -2.43 to -0.73; following 3 cycles SMD -3.74, 95% CI -5.57 to -1.90), particularly with invasive techniques. The incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between groups (relative risk [RR] 0.94, 95% CI 0.26 to 3.33). The GRADE certainty of the evidence ranged from low to moderate, owing to considerable risk of bias and high heterogeneity. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that acupoint stimulation may reduce pain intensity in primary dysmenorrhea without increasing adverse reactions, particularly long-term.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.