Endometriosis is a chronic condition characterised by growth of endometrial tissue in sites other than the uterus, most commonly in the pelvic cavity, but also in other parts of the body (RCOG 2006). This ectopic tissue responds to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle, with subsequent bleeding, inflammation, and pain. If the ovaries are affected, endometriotic ovarian cysts may develop (Bulun 009). Although the condition may be asymptomatic, common symptoms include dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, non-cyclical pelvic and abdominal pain, and subfertility (RCOG 2006). When endometriosis remains untreated, the disease progresses in around a third of women, but seems either to resolve or does not progress in the rest (DTB 1999). The prevalence is estimated to vary from 2–22% of women and, in women with dysmenorrhoea, the incidence of endometriosis is 40–60% (Johnson 2007).
The cause of endometriosis is not known, but several factors are thought to be involved in its development. These include retrograde menstruation; embryonic cells giving rise to deposits in distant sites around the body; an abnormal quantity or quality of endometrial cells; failure of immunological mechanisms; angiogenesis; and the production of antibodies against endometrial cells (Gazvani 2002, Rock 1992, Seli 2003, Kyama 2003, Oral 1996).
Pain due to endometriosis can be functional, neuropathic, due to inflammation, or result from a combination of these. It may be evoked by a low intensity, normally innocuous stimulus (allodynia), it may be an exaggerated and prolonged response to a noxious stimulus (hyperalgesia), or it may be spontaneous in the absence of any apparent peripheral stimulus (Lundeberg 2008). In addition, oestrogens and prostaglandins probably play key modulatory roles in endometriosis and the pain it causes (Lundeberg 2008). Consequently, current medical treatments for the condition include drugs such as NSAIDs, combined oral contraceptives, progestogens, androgenic agents and gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues, as well as surgical excision of endometriotic lesions. However, management of pain in women with endometriosis is often inadequate.
References
Bulun, S.E. (2009) Mechanisms of disease: endometriosis. New England Journal of Medicine 360(3), 268-
Gazvani R. Templeton A. Peritoneal environment, cytokines and angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of
endometriosis. Reproduction 2002; 123(2): 217-26.
Kyama C et al. Potential involvement of the immune system in the development of endometriosis.
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2003 1; 123.
Johnson N, Farquhar C, 2007. Endometriosis. Clinical Evidence. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
Lundeberg T, Lund I. Is there a role for acupuncture in endometriosis pain, or 'endometrialgia'? Acupunct Managing endometriosis. Drug & Therapeutics Bulletin 1999; 37: 25-32. Orl E et al. The peritoneal environment in endometriosis. Human Reproduction Update 1996; 2: 385-98.
RCOG, 2006. The investigation and management of endometriosis. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Rock JA, Markham SM. Pathogenesis of endometriosis. Lancet 1992; 340:1264–7. Seli E et al. Pathogenesis of endometriosis. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2003; 30: 41–61.
In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body's homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional well-being. Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress (Wu 1999).
There is preliminary evidence to support acupuncture as an effective treatment for endometriosis, with one small sham controlled trial (Wayne 2008) and a few comparative studies against Western medication (Yan 2008, Xia 2006, Sun 2006), though further research is needed to confirm this. It has been shown that acupuncture treatment may specifically be of benefit in people with endometriosis by:
· providing pain relief - by stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues,
acupuncture leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord (Zhao 2008, Han 2004, Zijlstra 2003, Pomeranz 1987).
· reducing inflammation - by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory
· regulating levels of prostaglandins (Jin 2009) · combining acupuncture with Chinese herbal medicine for endometriosis has been
shown in animal studies to down-regulate the abnormal increase of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) levels that is associated with ectopic activity of endometrial cells. The treated rats had reduced areas of ectopic tissue (Chen 2008). MMP-2 is required for the anchoring of the placenta to the uterine wall in pregnancy but over-production can lead to endometriosis.
Acupuncture is a tried and tested system of traditional medicine, which has been used in China and other eastern cultures for thousands of years to restore, promote and maintain good health. Its benefits are now widely acknowledged all over the world and in the past decade traditional acupuncture has begun to feature more prominently in mainstream healthcare in the UK. In conjunction with needling, the practitioner may use techniques such as moxibustion, cupping, massage or electro-acupuncture. They may also suggest dietary or lifestyle changes. Traditional acupuncture takes a holistic approach to health and regards illness as a sign that the body is out of balance. The exact pattern and degree of imbalance is unique to each individual. The traditional acupuncturist’s skill lies in identifying the precise nature of the underlying disharmony and selecting the most effective treatment. The choice of acupuncture points will be specific to each patient’s needs. Traditional acupuncture can also be used as a preventive measure to strengthen the constitution and promote general well-being. An increasing weight of evidence from Western scientific research (see overleaf) is demonstrating the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating a wide variety of conditions. From a biomedical viewpoint, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system, influencing the production of the body’s communication substances - hormones and neurotransmitters. The resulting biochemical changes activate the body's self-regulating homeostatic systems, stimulating its natural healing abilities and promoting physical and emotional well-being.
With over 3000 members, the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is the UK’s largest professional body for traditional acupuncturists. Membership of the BAcC guarantees excellence in training, safe practice and professional conduct. To find a qualified traditional acupuncturist, contact the BAcC on 020 8735 0400 or visit
Research Conclusion Clinical studies
A randomised controlled trial that assessed the therapeutic effect
of ear electroacupuncture on dysmenorrhoea in 80 patients with
endometriosis. The women were equally allocated to an ear
dysmenorrhea in patients]. Zhen Ci
electroacupuncture group or a body electroacupuncture group,
both given for 30 minutes, once every other day for 3 months. Dysmenorrhoea severity score was assessed and plasma prostaglandin (PGE2) and 6-Keto-PGF1alpha levels were detected by radio-immunoassay. Compared with baseline scores, dysmenorrhoea was significantly reduced during the 1st and 2nd menstrual cycle in the body acupuncture group, and during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle in the ear acupuncture group. The score was also less with ear than body acupuncture in the 3rd cycle (p<0.05). During onset of the 3rd cycle, plasma PGE2 levels fell in both groups (p<0.01), and plasma 6-Keto-PGF1alpha levels increased (p<0.01); both more so in the ear acupuncture group (p<0.05). The researchers concluded that both ear and body electroacupuncture can effectively relieve endometriosis-induced dysmenorrhoea, and that the former seems to be superior to the latter in reducing pain severity, which may be closely related to their effects in reducing plasma PGE2 and raising 6-Keto-PGF1alpha level.
A pilot randomised sham-controlled trial to assess feasibility and
acupuncture for endometriosis-related collect preliminary data on Japanese-style acupuncture for pelvic pain in adolescents and young reducing chronic pelvic pain and improving health-related quality of women: results of a randomized
life in adolescents with endometriosis. Eighteen young women
(aged 13-22 years) with laparoscopically-diagnosed endometriosis-
Adolesc Gynecol 2008; 21(5): 247-57. related chronic pelvic pain were allocated to a Japanese style of
acupuncture or a sham acupuncture control. Sixteen treatments were given over 8 weeks. At 4 weeks, those in the active acupuncture group (n = 9) had a significantly greater reduction in pain than the control group (an average 4.8 point reduction on a 11 point scale vs. an average 1.4 point reduction, p=0.004). Reduction in pain in the acupuncture group lasted for 6-months. All health-related quality of life measures showed a greater improvement with acupuncture than with control treatment, but these trends were not statistically significant. No serious adverse events were reported. The researchers concluded that preliminary findings suggest that Japanese-style acupuncture may be an effective, safe and well-tolerated adjunctive therapy for endometriosis-related pelvic pain in adolescents.
A randomised controlled trial to explore the therapeutic effect of
therapeutic effect of acupuncture and acupuncture on endometrial disorders. Sixty-six women were moxibustion on disorders of
allocated to an acupuncture group or a medication group
(danazol). Effectiveness was assessed, and changes in oestradiol
levels, haemoglobin and blood platelet counts were observed. Overall, 97.0% of the acupuncture group and 72.7% of the
medication group considered the treatment effective (p<0.05). Also, oestradiol levels decreased, and haemoglobin and platelet
counts increased in the acupuncture group. The researchers concluded that acupuncture has obvious therapeutic effect, which is better than that of simple western medicine.
A randomised controlled trial to compare the clinical effect of
acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine with danazol in the
treatment of endometriosis. Seventy-eight women were randomly
International Journal of Clinical
divided into the acupuncture plus herbs group or the western
medicine control group. The overall efficacy was similar in the two groups, but the effects on lumbosacral pain, anal down-bearing,
distention, irregular menstruation and infertility were significantly better in the acupuncture plus herbs group than in the danazol group (p<0.05). Also, prostaglandin levels were significantly lower after treatment than before (p<0.05). The researchers concluded that the combined use of acupuncture and herbs has a significant effect on endometriosis and the adverse reactions are less than with danazol.
A randomised controlled trial to compare the therapeutic effects of
acupuncture, Shu-Mu acupuncture point combination and danazol
on endometriosis. Ninety women were allocated to one of the three
treatment groups. Clinical symptoms and signs, tumour marker
serum CA125 values and adverse effects were assessed before and after treatment. The clinical effects were similar in the three
groups. However, the Shu-Mu point combination group was superior to the other two groups in terms of improvement in dysmenorrhoea, irregular menstruation, lumbago and sacrodynia (p<0.01). After treatment, serum CA125 in the Shu-Mu point combination group had decreased significantly (p<0.01). The researchers concluded that Shu-Mu acupuncture point combination needling method has an obvious therapeutic effect on endometriosis, with lower adverse effects than danazol.
Physiology studies on endometriosis
An animal study that assessed the effects of acupuncture plus
acupuncture combined with medicine drug treatment on an endometriosis model in rats. It found that on expression of matrix
the combination down-regulated the abnormal increase of matrix
metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) levels, which inhibits the invasion of
endometriosis]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu
ectopic tissue into extracellular matrix, so reducing ectopic tissue.
Physiology – acupuncture in
A review article that discusses the various peripheral and central
nervous system components of acupuncture anaesthesia in detail.
A literature review of studies relating to the release of endorphins
endorphins. Neurosci Lett 2004; 361: with acupuncture. 258-61.
A review article that discusses the anti-inflammatory action of, and
actions of acupuncture. Mediators
promotion of blood circulation by, acupuncture. It suggests that
acupuncture could positively affect the enrolment of the whole cascade of inflammatory mediators, which could be relevant in pain management. It also explains how insertion of acupuncture needles initially stimulates production of beta-endorphins, and
substance P, leading to further stimulation of cytokines.
An experimental study using MRI to characterise the central
nervous system pathway for acupuncture stimulation, which found
that acupuncture activates structures of descending
antinocioceptive pathway and deactivates areas mediating pain
preliminary experience. Radiology
A book that discusses how needle activation of A delta and C
acupuncture. In: Stux G, Pomeranz B, afferent nerve fibres in muscle sends signals to the spinal cord, eds. Acupuncture Textbook and
where dynorphin and enkephalins are released. It explains how
afferent pathways continue to the midbrain, triggering excitatory
and inhibitory mediators in the cord. Ensuing release of neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine leads to pain transmission being inhibited both pre- and postsynaptically in the spinothalamic tract. Finally, these signals reach hypothalamus and pituitary, triggering release of adrenocorticotropic hormones and beta-endorphin.
A review article that discusses anti-inflammatory actions of
traditional and electro-acupuncture, suggesting that they are
mediated by efferent vagus nerve activation and inflammatory
Terms and conditions
The use of this fact sheet is for the use of British Acupuncture Council members and is subject to the strict conditions imposed by the British Acupuncture Council details of which can be found in the members area of its’ website
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