Effect of acupuncture at the Shiqizhui point at different intervention timings on SF-MPQ in patients with primary dysmenorrhea

OBJECTIVE: This study selected two different intervention timings of acupuncture at the Shiqizhui point, premenstrual and immediately at the onset of pain, and compared them with a blank waiting control group, to observe their effects on the quality and intensity of pain in primary dysmenorrhea (PD), and to provide a reference for choosing the intervention timing of acupuncture at Shiqizhui for PD. METHODS: Using random allocation, 90 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into 3 groups: a single-point (Shiqizhui) immediate acupuncture group of 30 cases (2 dropouts), a single-point (Shiqizhui) premenstrual acupuncture group of 30 cases (3 dropouts), and a blank control group of 30 cases (1 dropout). Differences in SF-MPQ scores before and after acupuncture in the three groups, and differences among the three groups, were observed. RESULTS: Before treatment, there were no significant differences between groups (P>0.05). After each treatment cycle, all SF-MPQ evaluation indicators in the premenstrual and immediate acupuncture groups differed significantly from their respective screening periods (P<0.05) and from the blank control group (P<0.05); the blank control group showed no significant change before and after waiting (P>0.05); the difference between the premenstrual and immediate acupuncture groups was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Acupuncture at Shiqizhui both before menstruation and at the time of pain can significantly improve the quality of pain in PD patients and reduce its severity. 2. The analgesic effect of acupuncture at Shiqizhui at the time of pain is seen in the first menstrual cycle, and both groups show a cumulative analgesic effect in PD patients. 3. Acupuncture at Shiqizhui at the time of pain is more effective than premenstrual acupuncture.