Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

This randomized trial will evaluate the effect of adding auriculotherapy (i.e. acupuncture applied to the ear) using either gold beads or Pyonex needles in addition to usual care for the relief of pain and anxiety during medication abortion. The control group will receive placebo auriculotherapy plus usual care. Participants will receive the assigned treatment immediately after they receive their initial abortion medication. The investigators will assess pain and anxiety via text message once daily for four days, and in person at a one-week follow-up visit.


Clinical Trial Description

Most women undergoing medication abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol report moderate to severe pain, despite treatment with ibuprofen or opioids. In 2018 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) recommended research to improve pain relief. Limited data indicate that acupuncture is valuable for dysmenorrhea and for labor pain, conditions in which pain may be similar to that experienced during medication abortion. This randomized trial will recruit women seeking medication abortion after they have completed their routine clinical assessment and after they have received mifepristone. This study will evaluate two types of auriculotherapy applied to selected acupoints on the external ear. The study treatments are acupuncture using Pyonex needles and acupressure using gold pellets; both are applied to the ear using adhesive disks. A control group will receive the adhesive disks alone. All participants will receive usual medication abortion care, including taking misoprostol 1-3 days after mifepristone and ibuprofen for pain management. The investigators will query the participants regarding pain and anxiety. Follow-up will end at the time of the usual clinical follow-up about one week after mifepristone administration. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03900728
Study type Interventional
Source Columbia University
Contact
Status Completed
Phase N/A
Start date April 1, 2019
Completion date March 30, 2020

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT03989869 - Very Early Medical Abortion N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03736681 - Effect of Paracervical Block Volume on Pain Control for Dilation and Curettage Phase 1
Completed NCT03636451 - Effect of Paracervical Block Volume on Pain Control for Dilation and Curettage.o Phase 3
Recruiting NCT05182008 - A Patient Decision Aid for Method of Early Abortion: A Randomized Control Trial N/A
Completed NCT04432792 - The California Home Abortion by Telehealth (CHAT) Study
Completed NCT03417362 - Delivery of Audiovisual Information on Early Medical Abortion N/A
Completed NCT04824118 - Clotting Parameters After Medical Abortion
Recruiting NCT04458558 - Improving Access to Abortion in the Republic of Georgia Phase 4
Active, not recruiting NCT05278780 - Medication Abortion With Autonomous Self-Assessment Project N/A
Completed NCT03320057 - Medication Abortion Via Pharmacy Dispensing Phase 4
Not yet recruiting NCT05986357 - The Relation of High Sensitivity C Reactive Protein and Total Leucocytic Count Levels in Threatened Abortion
Completed NCT03047551 - Transabdominal and Transvaginal Sonography in Medical Abortion N/A
Completed NCT03913104 - Mail Order Mifepristone Study Phase 4
Terminated NCT04139382 - Using Telemedicine to Improve Early Medical Abortion at Home N/A
Recruiting NCT05147857 - Mid Trimester Abortion Effectiveness by Dilapan s N/A
Recruiting NCT05781061 - MA-ASAP at Independent Abortion Clinics: A Demonstration Project N/A
Completed NCT02522078 - Dry vs Wet Misoprostol for Cervical Dilation in First Trimester Abortion Phase 4
Completed NCT05635955 - Remimazolam Versus Propofol for Painless Abortion Phase 2
Active, not recruiting NCT05342974 - Atorvastatin as a Potential Adjunct to Misoprostol for Termination of Pregnancy Early Phase 1