Table 2.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Sample size | Age | Intervention | Dose | ||||||||||
| Included studies | Years | Country | Experimental group | Control group | Experimental group | Control group | Experimental group | Control group | Course of treatment | Outcome indicators | Follow up | Shedding | |
| Hu et al[25] | 2012 | China | 60 | 50 | 15–30 | Eye acupuncture | Ibuprofen | 1 time/d | 300 mg/time,2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Total effective rate | 3 menstrual cycles after treatment | No shedding |
| Zhi et al[26] | 2007 | China | 57/57 | 57 | Not reported | Electro-superficial-needling; superficial needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/cycle | 0.3mg/time, 2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | 3 menstrual cycles after treatment | Shedding |
| Ren et al[27] | 2010 | China | 30 | 30 | 12–48 | electroacupuncture | Ibuprofen | 1 time/d | 300 mg/time, 2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | No shedding |
| Wang et al[28] | 2018 | China | 20 | 20 | 14–35 | Abdominal Acupuncture | Ibuprofen | 1 time/d | 300 mg/time,2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | No shedding |
| Liang et al[29] | 2018 | China | 32 | 32 | 14–35 | Abdominal Acupuncture | Ibuprofen | 1 time/d | 300 mg/time,2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score | 3 menstrual cycles after treatment | Shedding |
| Zhu[30] | 2015 | China | 33 | 33 | 16–28 | Abdominal Acupuncture | Ibuprofen | 1 time/2 d | 0.2 g/time, 1 time/d | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score; Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | 1 month after treatment | Shedding |
| Li[31] | 2016 | China | 30; 30 | 30 | 16–35 | Tongyuan acupuncture; conventional acupuncture | Ibuprofen | 1 time/d | 300 mg/time,2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score; Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | 3 menstrual cycles after treatment | Not reported |
| Liang et al[32] | 2018 | China | 30 | 30 | 16–25 | Qin's flying needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/d | 2 times/d, 2 capsules/time | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score; Cure rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Wang et al[33] | 2013 | China | 32; 31 | 32 | 18–25 | Wrist ankle needle; Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/d | 300 mg/time,1 time/d | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score; Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Shedding |
| Liu et al[34] | 2011 | China | 30 | 30 | 18–41 | needling Diji | Ibuprofen | 1 time/2 d | 300 mg/time,3 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Wei et al[35] | 2016 | China | 30 | 30 | 10–30 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | Not described | 1 piece/time,1 time/d; In severe cases, take 2 tablets orally after 12 h | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score; Cure rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Li et al[36] | 2017 | China | 20 | 20 | 15–30 | needling Dong's odd points | Ibuprofen | 1 time/day | 300 mg/time,2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Ning et al[37] | 2015 | China | 45 | 45 | 16–37 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/day | 0.3 g/time, 2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Fu et al[38] | 2010 | China | 50 | 50 | 13–35 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/day | 1 capsule/time, 2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Chen et al[39] | 2011 | China | 52 | 40 | 14–43 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/day | 1–2 tablets/time, 2–3 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Zhao et al[40] | 2011 | China | 40 | 40 | 18–42 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1–2 times/day | 0.3 g/time, 2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Chen et al[41] | 2014 | China | 40 | 40 | Not reported | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | Not described | 0.3 g/time, 2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | 3 menstrual cycles after treatment | Not reported |
| Wang et al[42] | 2014 | China | 31 | 32 | 18-25 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/day | 300 mg/time,1 time/d | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Shedding |
| Wang et al | 2019 | China | 32 | 32 | 18–35 | Long needle | Ibuprofen | 1 time/day | 300 mg/time, 2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score | Not reported | Shedding |
| Zhu et al | 2019 | China | 36 | 36 | 16–30 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/day | 0.3 g/time, 2 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |
| Sheng | 2019 | China | 36 | 36 | 16–35 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/day | 200 mg/time,3 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | VAS score; Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | 3 menstrual cycles after treatment | Shedding |
| Shi et al | 2020 | China | 30 | 30 | 15–36 | Zhuang needling | Ibuprofen | 2 time/wk | 0.3g/time, 3 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | 3 menstrual cycles after treatment | Not reported |
| Xue | 2020 | China | 60 | 60 | 18–34 | Conventional needling | Ibuprofen | 1 time/d | 0.3 g/time,3 times/d | 3 menstrual cycles | Cure rate; Markedly effective rate; Total effective rate | Not reported | Not reported |