Determining the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of menstrual migraine: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: Menstrual migraine (MM) is a common type of headache linked to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, remains challenging to treat due to the limited efficacy of current therapies. While acupuncture shows potential as a therapeutic option for MM, the existing evidence does not clearly support its routine clinical use. This protocol for a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis seeks to gather and evaluate recent clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in treating MM.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases from their inception to April 2025, including PubMed, Medline, Ovid, Embase, ScienceDirect, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, the Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM) database, and the VIP Database. This was complemented by regular updates from trial registries such as the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), which target unpublished and ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Eligible studies were RCTs comparing acupuncture with Western medicine, herbal remedies, sham acupuncture, or no intervention for the management of MM. Primary outcomes included the pain intensity [Visual Analog Scale (VAS)], the frequency of migraine attacks (FM), and duration of migraine (DM). Secondary outcomes encompassed response rate, Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), the Menstrual Headache…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,584 participants or records.
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