The effect of auricular acupressure on sexual functioning among postmenopausal women: A randomized sham controlled trial

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

European Journal of Integrative Medicine Pub Date : 2025-03-29 DOI:10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102451

Zainab Alimoradi , Zohreh Hosseini Marznaki , Mohammad Hossein Hakimi , Terry Oleson , Mark D. Griffiths

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Sexual dysfunction is a common complaint of postmenopausal women. The present study investigated the effect of ear acupressure on sexual functioning (the primary outcome) and sexual distress (the secondary outcome) among postmenopausal women.

Methods

A randomized, sham-controlled triple-blinded trial was conducted from June 2022 to January 2023 among postmenopausal women recruited from urban comprehensive health centers in Qazvin, Iran. Ninety postmenopausal women were randomly assigned (1:1) to auricular acupressure or sham control group using a balanced block randomization method. The intervention was 10 sessions of ear acupressure (at four-day intervals) using adhesives containing vaccaria seeds. The sham intervention was identical except for the use of special non-latex adhesives but without the vaccaria seeds. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), and Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) were completed by participants three times during the study: before intervention, one month after intervention, and two months after intervention.

Results

Auricular acupressure significantly increased the mean score on the FSFI in the intervention group compared to the sham group (adjusted mean difference of 5.12 [95 % CI: 3.39; 6.85] in first follow-up, and 10.17 [95 % CI: 7.71; 12.63]) in second follow-up. There was a significant decrease in the mean score on the ASEX (decreased scores indicate better sexual experience) and FSD in the intervention group compared to the sham group in first and second follow-up. These changes were also clinically significant. No adverse events were reported during the intervention or the follow-ups.

Conclusion

Among postmenopausal women, auricular acupressure appears to be an effective intervention in improving sexual functioning, as well as reducing sexual distress.

Trial registration

The trial was registered prospectively in 2022–04–13 (code IRCT20180218038789N6) in the Clinical Trial Registration Center of Iran.

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耳穴按压对绝经后妇女性功能的影响：一项随机假对照试验

性功能障碍是绝经后妇女的常见主诉。本研究探讨了耳指压对绝经后妇女性功能（主要结局）和性苦恼（次要结局）的影响。方法于2022年6月至2023年1月在伊朗Qazvin城市综合卫生中心招募绝经后妇女进行随机、假对照三盲试验。采用平衡区随机法，将90名绝经后妇女按1:1的比例随机分为耳穴按压组和假对照组。干预是使用含有牛痘种子的粘合剂进行10次耳指压（每隔4天）。假干预是相同的，除了使用特殊的非乳胶胶粘剂，但没有牛痘种子。女性性功能指数（FSFI）、亚利桑那性经验量表（ASEX）和女性性苦恼量表（FSDS）在研究期间分别于干预前、干预后1个月和干预后2个月完成3次。结果与假手术组相比，穴位按摩显著提高了干预组FSFI的平均评分（调整平均差为5.12）[95% CI: 3.39；第一次随访为6.85,10.17 [95% CI: 7.71；12.63])。在第一次和第二次随访中，与假手术组相比，干预组的ASEX（得分降低表明性体验更好）和FSD的平均得分显著下降。这些变化也具有临床意义。在干预或随访期间无不良事件报告。结论在绝经后妇女中，耳穴按摩可有效改善性功能，减少性困扰。试验注册本试验已于2022年4月13日在伊朗临床试验注册中心前瞻性注册（代码IRCT20180218038789N6）。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Integrative Medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

4.00%

发文量

102

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： The European Journal of Integrative Medicine (EuJIM) considers manuscripts from a wide range of complementary and integrative health care disciplines, with a particular focus on whole systems approaches, public health, self management and traditional medical systems. The journal strives to connect conventional medicine and evidence based complementary medicine. We encourage submissions reporting research with relevance for integrative clinical practice and interprofessional education. EuJIM aims to be of interest to both conventional and integrative audiences, including healthcare practitioners, researchers, health care organisations, educationalists, and all those who seek objective and critical information on integrative medicine. To achieve this aim EuJIM provides an innovative international and interdisciplinary platform linking researchers and clinicians. The journal focuses primarily on original research articles including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, other clinical studies, qualitative, observational and epidemiological studies. In addition we welcome short reviews, opinion articles and contributions relating to health services and policy, health economics and psychology.