Acupuncture for Non-cyclical Breast Pain

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Non-Cyclical Breast Pain

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00275574

Enrollment

Registered

2006-01-12

Start date

2003-04-30

Completion date

2009-08-31

Last updated

2016-01-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Breast Pain

Brief summary

Breast pain or mastalgia is a common and troublesome symptom for many women. Whereas cyclical breast pain related to hormonal fluctuations can frequently be treated, non-cyclical breast pain can go untreated due to its various etiologies and non-specific presentation. Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine that has been used for centuries to treat a vast array of illnesses and conditions. Research has shown that acupuncture has a link to a release of endorphins and other chemicals in the central nervous system. Thus, it is thought to help relieve pain. To date, there has been minimal research using acupuncture for breast pain. This pilot of 30 women will seek to determine whether four acupuncture treatments over a period of two weeks will significantly lower the level of pain experienced by these participants. Additionally, we will evaluate quality of life measures.

Interventions

PROCEDUREacupuncture

acupuncture

Study design

Allocation

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

FEMALE

Age

18 Years to 100 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Female * greater than 18 years * non-cyclical unilateral or bilateral breast pain occurring daily, Greater than or equal to 2 on the BPI (average pain question) * pain for more than 3 months * satisfactory (non-suspicious for malignancy) breast examination within one year of enrollment (need documentation from physician or advanced practice nurse) * satisfactory (non-suspicious for malignancy) mammogram and/or ultrasound within one year if Greater than 35 years(need written report to verify) * able to return for acupuncture two times a week for two weeks * speak and understand English * hormone replacement therapy discontinued \> 3 months

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Four acupuncture treatments over a period of two weeks can improve non-cyclical breast pain	two weeks

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026