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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00312585

Acupuncture for the Prevention of Postdates Pregnancy

The purpose of this study is to assess if acupuncture can shorten the time to delivery for women who are experiencing their first, full-term pregnancy.

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Key information

Conditions

Pregnancy

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

UNC-Chapel Hill Family Medicine Center

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-7595, United States

About this study

There are certain medical conditions that can complicate pregnancies after 40 weeks gestation. However, it is not always safe or easy to put these women into labor. Acupuncture has been used in Asia for hundreds of years to induce contractions and begin the labor process. Acupuncture is not typically used in the United States to induce labor, however. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a series of up to five acupuncture treatments can prevent postdates pregnancy.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • first, full-term pregnancy
  • 38-41 weeks gestation
  • English or Spanish speaking
  • Bishop score of 7 or less

Exclusion criteria

  • uncertain pregnancy dating
  • transportation difficulties
  • previous inability to tolerate acupuncture
  • age less than 18

Treatment and study plan

Acupuncture

Procedure

Sham Comparator

Procedure

Primary outcomes

  1. prevention of inpatient induction of labor

Secondary outcomes

  1. rate of cesarean delivery

  2. rates of chorioamnionitis

  3. length of maternal hospital stay

  4. rates of assisted delivery

  5. neonatal outcomes

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture to Prevent Postdates Pregnancy

Important dates

Study start
2005
Primary completion
2007
Study completion
2007
First posted
Apr 10, 2006
Registry last updated
Apr 7, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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