Abstract Introduction Acupuncture can have varying effects on physical and sexual health of menopausal women based on the treatment method. Objective Our aim is to review the therapeutic outcomes of acupuncture in addressing physical and sexual health concerns in menopausal women. Methods This literature review focused on the impact of acupuncture on vasomotor effects in menopausal symptoms as well as the duration of these effects. In addition, the psychological effects noted during placebo trials were used as a measure of identifying the biological basis of acupuncture. We reviewed the inclusion criteria for participants across studies to determine which factors were most likely to be associated with experiencing benefits from treatment. Lastly, we analyzed the impact of acupuncture on sexual desire and arousal in menopausal women. Durations of treatments were compared across studies to analyze the length of treatment needed for measurable clinical improvement. Results Data shows that in most women, menopause negatively impacts their physical and sexual health. In particular, menopausal women have commonly reported struggling with vasomotor symptoms (VMS) such as hot flashes, dryness, and memory fogginess. VMS has been reported to be the chief concern of many women and has driven them to seek medical attention. However, treatments such as hormone therapy have shown to have adverse effects such as breast tenderness and increased risk of breast cancer. This has led many women to use alternative methods such as acupuncture. The use of acupuncture by menopausal women has been linked to the improvement of VMS and declined their frequency by over 36%. In fact, acupuncture has shown to have beneficial effects even 6 months after treatment has concluded (Avis et al., 2017). After consistent treatment, acupuncture has also improved sleep quality, reduced hot flash frequency, and reduced anxiety. Research suggests that these positive effects may be due to acupuncture’s correlation with increasing the release of endorphins (Avis et al., 2017). Menopause is linked to a decrease in endorphins and hormonal changes leading to sexual dysfunction in women. Sexual dysfunction affects the quality of life for women who suffer from menopause secondary to pain due from vaginal atrophy, dryness and reduced elasticity. Other symptoms of menopause including hormonal changes and cognitive changes can decrease libido. Research data indicates that acupuncture can stimulate dopaminergic activity and modulate hormonal secretion, thereby contributing to the regulation of endocrine function (Zhang et al., 2018). Acupuncture has shown significance regarding women’s sexual health such as effectively increasing vaginal discharge and easing involuntary vaginal muscle spasms (Zhang et al., 2018). Incorporating acupuncture as treatment for women who suffer from the symptoms of menopause can improve their quality of life. Conclusions Common treatment methods for symptoms of menopause are being critiqued for their adverse effects, leading women to turn towards alternative treatments such as acupuncture. With hormone therapy being linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and irregular bleeding, acupuncture has been shown to avoid long term side effects while still being effective in treating persistent symptoms. Advancing research on alternative treatments like acupuncture can enable women to improve their health by expanding safe, low-risk options for care and reduce unintended risks to their health. Disclosure No.
Lam et al. (Sun,) studied this question.