Treatment of women's reproductive health conditions by Australian and New Zealand acupuncturists

Abstract

Acupuncture is used by nine percent of the Australian population; however, we know relatively little about the practice of acupuncture to treat women's reproductive health in Australia and New Zealand. This study surveyed acupuncturists to examine their practice with treating women's reproductive health complaints. A cross sectional survey of 3406 Australian and New Zealand acupuncturists was conducted. A self-completion questionnaire explored the areas of acupuncture treatment for gynaecological pregnancy and fertility complaints. Questionnaires were completed by 377 acupuncturists. Ninety-six percent of practitioners reported treating women's reproductive health conditions within the previous year. All three areas of women's reproductive health were commonly treated with 96% treating gynaecological health, 91% treating pregnancy conditions, and 90% fertility conditions. The most commonly treated gynaecological conditions were premenstrual syndrome (90.1%, 95% CI 86.2-93.0), menopause (89.4%, 95% CI 85.4-92.4) and primary dysmenorrhea (89.1%, 95% CI 85.1-92.2). Participants reported treating general fertility not related to assisted reproduction (93%, 95% CI 89.4-95.5), treatment for a diagnosed fertility related conditions (85.8%, 95% CI 81.1-89.4), and to decrease infertility related stress (86%, 95% CI 81.5-89.7). The most common pregnancy related conditions treated were nausea (90.3%, 95% CI 86.3-93.3), back or pelvic pain (89.3%, 95% CI 85.1-92.4), and prebirth labour preparation (86.8%, 95% CI 82.3-90.3). Treating women's reproductive health complaints was commonly reported among the groups of acupuncturists in Australia and New Zealand responding to this survey; however, our findings cannot be generalised to the wider acupuncture communities in these two countries.