Acupuncture First for IC/BPS

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS CLEVELAND MEDICAL CENTER · Apr 10, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called "Acupuncture First for IC/BPS," is looking to find out if adding acupuncture to behavioral changes can help women with bladder pain syndrome, also known as interstitial cystitis, who haven't tried other treatments yet. The main goal is to see if acupuncture can reduce pain symptoms better than just making lifestyle changes alone. Participants will be asked to fill out surveys about their bladder pain, make certain behavioral adjustments that may help, and attend six weekly acupuncture sessions followed by six weekly physical therapy sessions.

To join this study, participants need to meet specific criteria, which include having pain related to the bladder for more than six weeks, with no other known causes. They should not have a history of recurrent urinary tract infections or certain other medical conditions that could interfere with the study. This trial is currently recruiting participants aged 18 and older of any gender, and it aims to provide new insights into effective treatments for bladder pain syndrome.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Meets American Urologic Association (AUA) criteria for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS): "An unpleasant sensation (pain, pressure, discomfort) perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms of more than 6 weeks duration, in the absence of other identifiable cause"
• • Negative urine culture
• • Has completed cystoscopic evaluation for IC/BPS
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of recurrent urinary tract infection (2 or more culture-positive in 6 months or 3 or more in 12 months)
• • History of overactive bladder
• • History of bleeding disorder or are currently on chronic anti-coagulation
• • Post-void residual \>100mL
• • Has previously undergone any of the following treatments for any indication: acupuncture, pelvic floor physical therapy, pre-tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), sacral neuromodulation, or intradetrusor Botox
• • Prior bladder augmentation
• • Currently undergoing or will undergo treatment for a urologic or gynecologic malignancy
• • Currently pregnant (if applicable, based on self-report)
• • Implanted pacemaker or defibrillator (AICD) or any metallic implants below umbilicus (eg hip or knee replacements)
• • Non-English speaking and reading