Overview
This study is conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in moderate to severe cyclic breast pain.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Meeting the diagnosis criteria of cyclic breast pain.
- Female patients aged between 18 and 55.
- Relatively regular menstrual cycle.
- Cyclic breast pain lasting for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles or more.
- The score of worst pain ≥5 on Numerical Rating Scale and any level of breast pain lasting 5-21 days during the run-in period of one menstrual cycle.
- No previous experience of acupuncture for breast diseases.
- Willing to use nonhormonal contraceptives if any risk of pregnancy.
- Volunteer to the trial and signing written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Noncyclic breast pain.
- Extramammary pain only.
- A history of breast cancer or suspicious of malignancy breast disease by examinations.
- The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4-6 in ultrasound or mammography examinations.
- Combined with mastitis.
- Breast pain following injury, surgery, hormones, and/or other drugs.
- Usage of hormones (including hormonal contraceptives) in the past three months.
- Combined with severe diseases in the cardiac, respiratory, renal, liver, and hematopoietic systems, psychiatric disorder and/or cognitive disorders.
- A history of bilateral ovariectomy or premature ovarian failure.
- Pregnancy, lactation, or wishing to conceive before the end of the trial.
- Poor adherence.