Evaluation of outpatient acupuncture for relief of pregnancy-related conditions.

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture is a non-pharmacological option to relieve pregnancy-related complaints.

OBJECTIVE

To critically appraise the best available evidence for the use of acupuncture in outpatient care.

METHODS

The MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Centre for Reviews and Dissemination databases were searched for English-language and German-language papers published from January 1980 to March 2017 using search terms related to pregnancy combined with 'acupuncture'.

METHODS

Systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing non-pharmacological treatments in unselected or low-risk pregnant women.

METHODS

Quality was assessed using a checklist (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) and the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Meta-analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

High-quality systematic reviews (n=5) and RCTs with low risk of bias (n=3) were identified. The systematic reviews were based on single studies, with small sample sizes, that showed a benefit of acupuncture for evening pelvic pain; pelvic and low-back pain; nausea; functional disability; and sleep quality. Contradictory results were found in the RCTs regarding cesarean delivery; time to delivery; spontaneous labor; fetal distress; and Apgar score. Data pooling emphasized the heterogeneity of results.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence to support the use of acupuncture for relief of pregnancy-related conditions was limited.