Acupuncture for Urinary Incontinence
Completed · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Urinary Incontinence
In brief
This research study will evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in decreasing urinary incontinence (involuntary urine loss) in women. The study will involve 12 acupuncture sessions over 6 weeks. We will compare the effectiveness of acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture (a procedure in which the needle feels like it penetrates the skin, but is not actually inserted into the body) on the frequency and volume of involuntary (accidental) urine loss after completing the intervention, and again one month later. Individuals participating in this study will be randomly assigned to receive either the actual or sham acupuncture. Randomization means being assigned by chance, similar to flipping a coin. Study participants will not know which group (actual or sham acupuncture) they were assigned to until one month after completing the 6-weeks of treatment. The sham acupuncture needles look similar to the real acupuncture needles and feel like they penetrate the skin, but do not actually do so. If individuals are assigned to the sham acupuncture group, they will be eligible to receive the actual acupuncture one month after completing the sham acupuncture if they wanted to. All individuals will be followed for 6 months after completing the acupuncture treatments.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00297427
- Run by
- University of Pittsburgh
- People needed
- 127
- Starts
- 2005-10-01
- Expected to finish
- 2011-07-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2016-10-24
Who can join
Age: 25 and older. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Urge or stress urinary incontinence at least twice a week on average for at least 3 months
You may not qualify if…
- History of previous acupuncture
- History of a neurologic problem such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis that could affect bladder function
- Current treatment with overactive bladder medications or medications that relax the bladder
- Urinary catheter
- Pregnancy
- Inability to empty the bladder effectively
- Inability to toilet independently
- Current treatment with steroid
- Interstitial cystitis
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Current treatment with warfarin
Where it is running
- University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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