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Effects of acupuncture for initiation of labor: a double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate whether use of acupuncture could initiate labor at term and thus reduce post-term induction.

Methods

Between 2010 and 2011, a total of 80 women at 38 weeks of gestation or greater were randomized to acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups. Acupuncture points LI4, SP6 and BL67 were needled bilaterally. The primary outcome was initiation of labor. The time from acupuncture to delivery, mode of delivery, fetal and maternal outcome and Apgar scores were recorded. The trial is registered at irct.ir, number IRCT201111218151N1.

Results

Eighty women were randomized and 75 women completed the study procedure. Age, BMI, parity and gestational age were similar in both groups. Spontaneous labor was initiated in 94.7 % of acupuncture group and 89.2 % of sham acupuncture group (p = 0.430). There were no statistically significant difference between groups for time from enrollment to delivery (p = 0.06).

Conclusion

According to this study, it seems that acupuncture was not effective in labor initiation compared to sham acupuncture.

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Abbreviations

RCT:

Randomized controlled trail

BMI:

Body mass index

LI4:

Large intestine 4

SP6:

Spleen 6

BL67:

Bladder 67

GA:

Gestational age

NVD:

Normal vaginal delivery

ACOG:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tajrish Sq, Tehran, Iran

    Ladan Ajori & Leila Nazari

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Dariush Eliaspour

Authors
  1. Ladan Ajori
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  2. Leila Nazari
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  3. Dariush Eliaspour
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Correspondence to Leila Nazari.

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Ajori, L., Nazari, L. & Eliaspour, D. Effects of acupuncture for initiation of labor: a double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 887–891 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2674-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2674-y

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