Acupuncture for Chronic Pelvic Pain

The objective of this study is to determine if alternative pain management strategies, namely acupuncture, may help reduce intensity of female pelvic pain compared to other pain control modalities. This research study will focus specifically on the Dragon's protocol of acupuncture which will seek to alleviate chronic non-endometriosis pelvic pain for women both with and without a history of sexual assault.

This study may support evidence for an inexpensive alternative means of treatment for patients with or without traumatic sexual history and chronic pelvic pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Pelvic Pain; Acupuncture; Gynecology
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Standard of Care; Other: Dragons

Detailed Description

The objective of this study is to determine if alternative pain management strategies, namely acupuncture, may help reduce intensity of female pelvic pain compared to other pain control modalities. This research study will focus specifically on the Dragon's protocol of acupuncture which will seek to alleviate chronic non-endometriosis pelvic pain for women both with and without a history of sexual assault. The Dragons protocol consists of two parts, both completed at the same visit; external Dragons (needles are placed on the dorsal surface of the body) and internal Dragons (needles are placed on the ventral surface of the body). In Chinese Acupuncture theory, external dragons represent the traumatic events that happen in our life and the internal dragons represent dragons that live in the body and fight off the external dragons. It is used to treat post-traumatic stress. During external dragons the patient thinks about prior trauma (let the external dragons in) then during the second phase of treatment the internal dragons fight off the external dragons. From a western neurobiology perspective, clinical experience suggests that patients with post-traumatic stress have memories stored in the limbic system, that when triggered, activate the sympathetic nervous system. Dragons allows the brain to "reprocess" these memories so that triggers do not activate a sympathetic response in the patient. The mechanism is unknown, but the investigators theorize it may be due to vagal stimulation from the needles while the patient "relives" the traumatic event, thus experiencing the event in a parasympathetic state. This intervention will be compared to other treatment modalities such as pelvic floor physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, or any other usual means to achieve pain control offered by their providers.

The investigators will measure pre-procedure and post-procedure pain levels using the standard military Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) in addition to a literature-based pelvic pain questionnaire, the Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI). In addition to the pain index scales, patients with a history of sexual trauma will receive the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) which is a standardized measurement tool for assessing for PTSD. The provided acupuncture intervention, Dragon's, is classically used to treat both physical and emotional pain. Therefore, a sub-analysis will be performed to evaluate improvement in PTSD symptoms in those with a history of sexual assault and trauma.

The hypothesis of this study is that acupuncture with Dragon's will reduce chronic pelvic pain in females with and without a history of sexual trauma as it is designed to treat both physical and emotional pain. This is a relatively safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment strategy that could be offered as an alternative means of pain control when traditional modalities are ineffective.

Screening visit (30 minutes)

• Obtain and document signed Informed Consent document and HIPAA Authorization
• Verify subject eligibility based on inclusion/exclusion criteria via medical record review
• Record all medications the subject is taking
• Collect demographic information to include DoD ID, age, race, gender, military status (active duty, reserve, retired, separated or dependent), history of sexual assault prior to onset of pelvic pain, history of mental health diagnoses (e.g. anxiety, depression, PTSD), prior treatments used to treat pelvic pain

Patient sample will be both control and treatment groups. Individuals will not be divided into distinct groups. Patients will serve as their own controls. Control patients will be participating in standard of care therapies including physical therapy, psychotherapy, behavioral health, typical primary care management, etc. as deemed appropriate by the primary care provider for 4 weeks prior to study intervention. The same patients will then be re-evaluated and will be offered Acupuncture with Dragon technique (see attachment Protocol for Needle Insertion) as a means of pain control once per week for 4 weeks. Pain outcomes will be assessed with Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) and Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI). For subjects with a history of sexual trauma, a sub analysis will assess symptom change before and after treatment with PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).

Visit 1 (week 0) (may be same day as screening visit) (20 minutes):

• Administer DVPRS including supplemental quality of life questions
• Administer GUPI
• Administer PCL-5 to subjects with a history of sexual assault

Visit 2 (week 4) (60 minutes) (In-Person):

• Subjects will report which treatments they have received since the screening visit
• Administer DVPRS including supplemental quality of life questions
• Administer GUPI
• Administer PCL-5 Monthly to subjects with a history of sexual assault
• The Dragons Script will be read to the subjects by the provider administering treatment
• Subjects will receive their initial Acupuncture treatment with Dragons

Visit 3 (week 5) (60 minutes) (In-Person):

• Administer DVPRS including supplemental quality of life questions
• Administer GUPI
• Administer PCL-5 Weekly to subjects with a history of sexual assault
• The Dragons Script will be read to the subjects by the provider administering treatment (visits 3-5 the subject can elect to read the script themselves).
• Subjects will receive their second Acupuncture treatment with Dragons

Visit 4 (week 6) (60 minutes) (In-Person):

• Administer DVPRS including supplemental quality of life questions
• Administer GUPI
• Administer PCL-5 Weekly to subjects with a history of sexual assault
• The Dragons Script will be read to the subjects by the provider administering treatment (visits 3-5 the subject can elect to read the script themselves).
• Subjects will receive their third Acupuncture treatment with Dragons

Visit 5 (week 7) (60 minutes) (In-Person):

• Administer DVPRS including supplemental quality of life questions
• Administer GUPI
• Administer PCL-5 Weekly to subjects with a history of sexual assault
• The Dragons Script will be read to the subjects by the provider administering treatment (visits 3-5 the subject can elect to read the script themselves).
• Subjects will receive their fourth Acupuncture treatment with Dragons

Visit 6 (week 11) (60 minutes) May be done virtually:

• Administer DVPRS including supplemental quality of life questions
• Administer GUPI
• Administer PCL-5 Monthly to subjects with a history of sexual assault

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 64
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Amanda Crawford, MSHS; Phone Number: 7026533583; Email: amanda.j.crawford.ctr@health.mil

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nevada
    • Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States, 89191
      • Recruiting
      • Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center
      • Contact: Amanda J Crawford, MSHS; Phone Number: 702-653-3583; Email: amanda.j.crawford.ctr@health.mil

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

**Patients must be able to get care at Nellis Air Force Base (a military installation) in order to participate in this study**

Inclusion Criteria:

• Active Duty and DoD Female Beneficiaries (i.e. former military, spouse, dependent) aged 21-65 with chronic pelvic pain
• Have negative laparoscopic findings for endometriosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe mental health disorders to include any disorder with psychotic features (e.g schizophrenia, bipolar, schizoaffective disorder)
• Pelvic pain as a result of severe physical trauma (excluding sexual assault) such as traumatic childbirth, pelvic fractures or any other trauma as determined by the PI or AI.
• Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Patient Cohort: Control; Patient sample will be both control and treatment groups. Individuals will not be divided into distinct groups. Patients will serve as their own controls. Control patients will be participating in standard of care therapies including physical therapy, psychotherapy, behavioral health, typical primary care management, etc. as deemed appropriate by the primary care provider for 4 weeks prior to study intervention. The same patients will then crossover and be re-evaluated and will be offered Acupuncture with Dragon technique (see attachment Protocol for Needle Insertion) as a means of pain control once per week for 4 weeks.	Other: Standard of Care; Standard of care therapies including physical therapy, psychotherapy, behavioral health, typical primary care management, etc. as deemed appropriate by the primary care provider for 4 weeks prior to study intervention.
Experimental: Patient Cohort: Intervention; Patient sample will be both control and treatment groups. Individuals will not be divided into distinct groups. Patients will serve as their own controls. Control patients will be participating in standard of care therapies including physical therapy, psychotherapy, behavioral health, typical primary care management, etc. as deemed appropriate by the primary care provider for 4 weeks prior to study intervention. The same patients will then crossover and be re-evaluated and will be offered Acupuncture with Dragon technique (see attachment Protocol for Needle Insertion) as a means of pain control once per week for 4 weeks.	Other: Dragons; The Dragons Script will be read to the subjects by the provider administering treatment. Subjects will receive their Acupuncture treatment with Dragons protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)	The DVPRS consists of an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS has demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 1 (Week 0)
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)	The DVPRS consists of an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS has demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 2 (Week 4)
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)	The DVPRS consists of an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS has demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 3 (Week 5)
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)	The DVPRS consists of an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS has demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 4 (Week 6)
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)	The DVPRS consists of an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS has demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 5 (Week 7)
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)	The DVPRS consists of an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS has demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 6 (Week 11)
Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI)	GUPI is a validated instrument to assess the degree of symptoms in both men and women with genitourinary pain complaints. It has a range of 0 to 45 and has also demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 1 (Week 0)
Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI)	GUPI is a validated instrument to assess the degree of symptoms in both men and women with genitourinary pain complaints. It has a range of 0 to 45 and has also demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 2 (Week 4)
Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI)	GUPI is a validated instrument to assess the degree of symptoms in both men and women with genitourinary pain complaints. It has a range of 0 to 45 and has also demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 3 (Week 5)
Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI)	GUPI is a validated instrument to assess the degree of symptoms in both men and women with genitourinary pain complaints. It has a range of 0 to 45 and has also demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 4 (Week 6)
Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI)	GUPI is a validated instrument to assess the degree of symptoms in both men and women with genitourinary pain complaints. It has a range of 0 to 45 and has also demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 5 (Week 7)
Female Genitourinary Pain Index (GUPI)	GUPI is a validated instrument to assess the degree of symptoms in both men and women with genitourinary pain complaints. It has a range of 0 to 45 and has also demonstrated linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.	Visit 6 (Week 11)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)	Will be administered to subjects with history of sexual trauma. PCL-5 is a 20-item self-reporting measure of PTSD rating how the respondent has been bothered by PTSD symptoms over the past month using a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Responses are summed to a total score with higher scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity. A total symptom severity score (range 0 - 80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items. Research suggests that a PCL-5 cutoff score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD. A 5 - 10 point change represents reliable change (i.e., change not due to chance) and a 10 - 20 point change represents clinically significant change.	Visit 1 (Week 0)
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)	Will be administered to subjects with history of sexual trauma. PCL-5 is a 20-item self-reporting measure of PTSD rating how the respondent has been bothered by PTSD symptoms over the past month using a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Responses are summed to a total score with higher scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity. A total symptom severity score (range 0 - 80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items. Research suggests that a PCL-5 cutoff score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD. A 5 - 10 point change represents reliable change (i.e., change not due to chance) and a 10 - 20 point change represents clinically significant change.	Visit 2 (Week 4)
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)	Will be administered to subjects with history of sexual trauma. PCL-5 is a 20-item self-reporting measure of PTSD rating how the respondent has been bothered by PTSD symptoms over the past month using a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Responses are summed to a total score with higher scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity. A total symptom severity score (range 0 - 80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items. Research suggests that a PCL-5 cutoff score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD. A 5 - 10 point change represents reliable change (i.e., change not due to chance) and a 10 - 20 point change represents clinically significant change.	Visit 3 (Week 5)
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)	Will be administered to subjects with history of sexual trauma. PCL-5 is a 20-item self-reporting measure of PTSD rating how the respondent has been bothered by PTSD symptoms over the past month using a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Responses are summed to a total score with higher scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity. A total symptom severity score (range 0 - 80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items. Research suggests that a PCL-5 cutoff score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD. A 5 - 10 point change represents reliable change (i.e., change not due to chance) and a 10 - 20 point change represents clinically significant change.	Visit 4 (Week 6)
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)	Will be administered to subjects with history of sexual trauma. PCL-5 is a 20-item self-reporting measure of PTSD rating how the respondent has been bothered by PTSD symptoms over the past month using a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Responses are summed to a total score with higher scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity. A total symptom severity score (range 0 - 80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items. Research suggests that a PCL-5 cutoff score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD. A 5 - 10 point change represents reliable change (i.e., change not due to chance) and a 10 - 20 point change represents clinically significant change.	Visit 5 (Week 7)
PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)	Will be administered to subjects with history of sexual trauma. PCL-5 is a 20-item self-reporting measure of PTSD rating how the respondent has been bothered by PTSD symptoms over the past month using a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Responses are summed to a total score with higher scores indicate greater PTSD symptom severity. A total symptom severity score (range 0 - 80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items. Research suggests that a PCL-5 cutoff score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD. A 5 - 10 point change represents reliable change (i.e., change not due to chance) and a 10 - 20 point change represents clinically significant change.	Visit 6 (Week 11)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: David Moss

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ahangari A. Prevalence of chronic pelvic pain among women: an updated review. Pain Physician. 2014 Mar-Apr;17(2):E141-7.
• Lamvu G, Carrillo J, Ouyang C, Rapkin A. Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Jun 15;325(23):2381-2391. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.2631.
• Li PS, Peng XM, Niu XX, Xu L, Hung Yu Ng E, Wang CC, Dai JF, Lu J, Liang RN. Efficacy of acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain: a multicenter randomized single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 2023 May;119(5):815-823. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.034. Epub 2023 Jan 27.
• Zhu X, Hamilton KD, McNicol ED. Acupuncture for pain in endometriosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Sep 7;2011(9):CD007864. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007864.pub2.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): April 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 9, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: acupuncture; integrative medicine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pelvic Pain; Health Services Administration; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Quality of Health Care; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Standard of Care
• Other Study ID Numbers: MOMMC.2024.0029

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: We do not plan on sharing data

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No