Can Electroacupuncture Effectively Improve Post-Abortion Care? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Objectives This study aims to systematically analyze the effects of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for minimizing side effects following miscarriage, particularly focusing on pain relief and physical and emotional stability. By reviewing randomized controlled trials, the study seeks to identify effective acupuncture points and standardize their use in post-abortion care. Methods This study systematically reviewed and analyzed randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in managing pain after miscarriage. The review followed PRISMA guidelines, included eight databases, and focused on comparing electroacupuncture to no intervention, analgesics, or combined treatments, with outcomes centered on pain and uterine bleeding. Results This study reviewed 260 articles on electroacupuncture for post-abortion pain, ultimately including six studies in the qualitative analysis and three in the meta-analysis. The results suggest that electroacupuncture significantly reduces pain compared to no intervention and may be more effective than analgesics, though high heterogeneity in the data requires cautious interpretation. Conclusion This study demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for managing miscarriage side effects, with a need for more diverse and standardized research. Graphical Abstract