Acupuncture effective treatment practice for Female Sexual Dysfunction, reports research

A groundbreaking study on Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) found that acupuncture is an effective treatment strategy for the management. It is safe, worthy and yields satisfactory results in women with sexual dysfunction issues. The study results were published in the journal Sexual Medicine.  

FSD is a significant issue that negatively impacts the quality of life for many women. It involves complex physiological and pathological mechanisms due to various endocrine imbalances, psychological and social stressors, medications, and gynecological conditions. All these factors can negatively impact sexual function. Based on the factors influencing FSD, it can be broadly divided into three categories like biological, psychological, and social. Despite its prevalence, access to effective treatments for FSD are less available to women. Hence, exploring alternative therapies became crucial. One such alternative is acupuncture, which has shown potential in improving sexual function in women. Hence researchers conducted a study to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of acupuncture in treating FSD, based on a clear acupuncture protocol and established face-to-face therapy to determine whether acupuncture could serve as an effective treatment for FSD. Then impact of acupuncture on various aspects of female sexual function and patient satisfaction was done by using existing acupuncture protocol by the researchers. 

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 women diagnosed with FSD who received acupuncture treatment between October 2018 and February 2022. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed by using the Chinese version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) which evaluates several key dimensions of sexual function, including sexual desire, arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain during intercourse (dyspareunia). Prognosis was assessed by measuring scores recorded before and after acupuncture treatment. The primary outcome was to measure the change in FSFI scores including specific evaluations of sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and dyspareunia. A comprehensive assessment of sexual function across multiple dimensions was done by using a validated questionnaire to allow for an in-depth analysis of the treatment's impact.