Acupuncture and Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Time-Series Study of Symptom Relief

Abstract

Abstract

Background:

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) includes disturbances in the sexual response cycle resulting in marked distress and interpersonal difficulty capable of altering quality of life adversely. FSD is a common phenomenon affecting up to 26%–71% of the general female population worldwide. The umbrella term FSD subsumes four disorders: (1) hypoactive sexual desire disorder; (2) female sexual arousal disorder; (3) orgasmic disorder; and (4) sexual pain disorder.

Objective:

The aim of this pilot study was to assess immediate and longer-term effects of acupuncture quantitatively on symptoms related to female sexual dysfunction, using global- and specific-symptom instruments.

Design:

This was a time series study in a self-selected population of nonrandomized patients.

Setting

: The pilot study was conducted at a private women's health clinic in Reno, NV.

Patients:

Seventeen sequential subjects between ages 40 and 66 and clinically diagnosed with FSD were assessed at baseline and followed through time.

Intervention:

The intervention examined was a series of four acupuncture treatments. Patients were also administered five instruments to measure symptoms related to FSD before acupuncture treatment, just before the final treatment, and 3 weeks after the final treatment.

Main Outcome Measures:

Using internal controls, changes in symptoms over time were measured using multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures.

Results:

Acupuncture promoted reductions in multidimensional symptoms related to FSD. Sexual desire improved as identified by two instruments, the Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory–Female (p=0.01 for short- and long-term) and the desire subscale of the Female Sexual Function Index (short-term p=0.002 and long-term p=0.04). Psychological symptoms were also reduced, as measured by two separate instruments, the Greene Climacteric Scale (short-term p=0.03, long-term p=0.008) and the Menopause Rating Scale (short-term p=0.04, long-term p=0.008). Acupuncture reduced anxiety in the short (p=0.03) and long term (p=0.01), reduced sexual dysfunction over the long-term (p=.03), improved urogenital symptoms over the short-term (p=.04) and somato-vegatative symptoms over the short (p=.01) and long-term (p=0.03).

Conclusions:

Acupuncture was effective for reducing some FSD problems, compared to baseline. Active research on nonpharmaceutical alternatives—including acupuncture—for treating symptoms related to FSD are ongoing, and preliminary results are promising.