Integrative Medicine Research (Jun 2023)

Impact of ejaculation upon effect of acupuncture on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

  • Lili Zhu,
  • Jiufei Fang,
  • Yuanjie Sun,
  • Min Yang,
  • Hao Yao,
  • Zhishun Liu

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 2
p. 100943

Abstract

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Background: Acupuncture can improve chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Ejaculation frequencies might impact the conditions of CP/CPPS. The present study aimed to explore the impact of different ejaculation frequencies on the effect of acupuncture among men with CP/CPPS. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the data from a multicenter, randomized, clinical trial. Eligible participants were patients with moderate to severe CP/CPPS, who had taken 8-week acupuncture treatment, and followed until week 32. Participants fell into the category of 0–3, 4–7, or at least 8 according to their monthly ejaculation frequencies reported at baseline. The primary outcome was the proportion of responders, defined as men who reported at least 6 points reduction from baseline in the National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIHCPSI) total score at weeks 8 and 32. Results: 214 participants were included in this secondary analysis, of whom 42 reported a monthly ejaculation frequency of 0–3, 89 reported a frequency of 4–7, and 83 reported a frequency of at least 8. At week 8, 52.20% participants with an ejaculation frequency of 0–3 responded to the acupuncture treatment, 65.38% participants with a frequency of 4–7 responded, and 63.09% participants with a frequency of at least 8 responded. At week 32, 56.14%, 59.57%, and 68.36% participants responded in the three groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed between three groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture can improve symptoms of CP/CPPS, regardless of ejaculation frequencies. Ejaculation frequencies may not affect the efficacy of acupuncture on CP/CPPS among Chinese men. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03213938

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