A randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating quality of life when using a simple acupressure protocol in women with primary dysmenorrhea

Objective: To evaluate a simple acupressure protocol in LIV3 and LI4 acupoints in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This paper reports a randomized, single blinded clinical trial. 90 young women with dysmenorrhea were recruited to three groups to receive 20 min acupressure every day in either LIV3 or LI4, or placebo points. Acupressure was timed five days before menstruation for three successive menstrual cycles. On menstruation, each participant completed the Wong Baker faces pain scale, and the quality of life short form - 12 (QOL SF-12). Results: Intensity and duration of pain between the three groups in the second and third cycles during the intervention (p < 0.05) differed significantly. Significant differences were seen in all domains of QOL except for mental health (p = 0.4), general health (p = 0.7) and mental subscale component (p = 0.12) in the second cycle, and mental health (p = 0.9), and mental subscale component (p = 0.14) in the third cycle. Conclusion: Performing the simple acupressure protocol is an effective method to decrease the intensity and duration of dysmenorrhea, and improve the QOL.