Does LI4 Acupuncture Provide an Effective Analgesia During Intrauterine Device

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are one the most preferred, most effective and reversible contraceptive methods with long term effects. The major drawback of women for IUD use is the pain anticipation during insertion of the device.

Studies using visual analog scale (VAS) demonstrated that pain perception during IUD insertion varied between 2-7 score. Surprisingly there are only limited number of studies on pain management during IUD insertion which is an ambulatory and out-patient gynecologic procedure. Besides the results of present studies contradict with each other. As a result, a standardized protocol is lacking for pain management in IUD insertion [1]. Currently, most of the IUDs are administered in Community Health Centers (CHC) in our country and no modality for pain control is applied before or after IUD insertion. In case of necessity intramuscular or oral analgesic drugs are prescribed.

In a long-standing review on the basics of this issue, it is concluded that the cervical component of pain perception during IUD insertion is psychologic rather than pathologic, is un-responsive to oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and could be deducted via psyche-prophylactic methods. similar results were presented with studies undertaken In the advancing years. A recent study demonstrated that verbal inspiration techniques were as effective as oral tramadol for pain management in IUD insertion. Additionally, the effects of anticipation of pain on perception of pain is essential as well. Because in a large scale study, the results showed that one point increments in the VAS for anticipated pain resulted in an increase of pain perception by 19,7%. Therefore, the fact that psychologic, biologic, cognitive, behavioral, emotional and social factors interfere with pain perception is well-known and it is recommended by clinicians that these factors should be taken into consideration in processes of selecting modalities for pain management.

Scientists research for the mechanism of pain control that acupuncture provides. Acupuncture is extremely effective in autonomic nerve regulation. Also, crucial effects of afferent information within somatic nerve fibers on autonomic functions were demonstrated on experimental and clinical studies. Acupuncture relies on biology based physiologic and psychologic mechanisms. It causes both the secretion of oxytocin and endogen opioids that induce functional changes in various organ systems and rhythmic changes in vulnerable tissues via the stimulation of receptors or nerve fibers.

Acupoint LI4 is the most intensely studied, hte most preferred for analgesia and is the most used acupoint in routine daily practice. Studies on pain management in cases of chest tube pain, dental pain or multiple sclerosis were undertaken using LI4.