Virtual Menstrual Pain Approaches in Females

This research study is testing two self-care approaches that may help prevent or reduce period pain in young females with recurrent painful menstrual cramps. Participants will be placed by chance into 1 of 3 groups: auricular acupressure, Baduanjin qigong, or a self-care education comparison group. The auricular acupressure and Baduanjin groups will receive online training and then practice the treatment on their own for 12 weeks. The main question is whether these two approaches can reduce the severity of menstrual pain. The study will also look at whether they can improve other symptoms that often happen with period pain, such as tiredness, poor sleep, anxiety, low mood, trouble concentrating, and reduced physical function. Researchers will also study stool and blood-related biological markers to better understand whether changes in gut bacteria and body metabolism may be linked to symptom improvement. A total of 145 participants will take part in the study at NTU, and any side effects or other safety concerns will be checked every week.

NCT Number	NCT07497711
Lead Sponsor	Nanyang Technological University Collaborators: Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Conditions	Pain (Visceral, Somatic, or Neuropathic), Women of Reproductive Age, Mental Disorder, Digital Health, Acupressure, Traditional Exercise, Host-Gut Microbiota Interaction, Metabolomics
Enrollment	145 participants
Start Date	2026-04-15
Primary Completion	2028-12-20 (estimated)
Study Completion	2029-03-20 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-06-23