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LI4 Acupuncture for Pain During Intrauterine Device Insertion
Sponsor: Nigde Omer Halisdemir University
Summary
This study will evaluate whether acupuncture can reduce pain during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. Women undergoing IUD insertion will be randomly assigned to receive either real acupuncture at the LI4 point on both hands or a sham acupuncture procedure that does not penetrate the skin. Both interventions will be applied for 15 minutes before IUD insertion. Participants will not know which treatment they receive. The clinician performing the IUD insertion and the researcher assessing the outcomes will also be unaware of the treatment assignment. Pain will be measured at different stages of the IUD insertion procedure and shortly after the procedure. The main outcome will be the highest pain score reported during IUD insertion. The study will also assess procedure tolerance, patient satisfaction, need for additional pain medication, and adverse events.
Official title: Effect of Acupuncture at the LI4 Point on Pain During Intrauterine Device Insertion: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - 50 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
150
Start Date
2026-10-15
Completion Date
2027-05-01
Last Updated
2026-10-02
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
LI4 Acupuncture
Bilateral acupuncture will be performed at the LI4 (Hegu) point 15 minutes before IUD insertion using sterile 0.25 × 25 mm acupuncture needles. Needles will be inserted to a depth of approximately 1.5-2 cm, and manual stimulation will be applied to elicit de qi. The needles will remain in place for 15 minutes and will then be removed before the IUD insertion procedure.
Sham Acupuncture
Bilateral sham acupuncture will be performed at the LI4 (Hegu) point 15 minutes before IUD insertion using Park-type non-penetrating sham needles. The sham needles will not penetrate the skin, and no de qi or manual stimulation will be elicited. The sham procedure will last 15 minutes and will be completed before IUD insertion. Treatment duration and participant-practitioner interaction will be standardized to match the LI4 acupuncture intervention.
Locations (1)
Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Hospital
Niğde, Niğde Province, Turkey (Türkiye)