Table 2

Summary of the literature on TEAS for the treatment of pelvic pain in women

Disease	Subjects (n)	Evaluation index	Acupuncture point	Parameter	Treatment	TEAS±related therapy	Control subject
Endometriosis25	84	NRS score, ESSS score, SF-36 quality of life score, adverse event rates.	Zhongji and Guanyuan.	2–100 Hz, 50–200 μs, ≤20 mA	30–60 min each time, three times each week, 2 weeks as a course, a total of six courses of treatment.	TEAS+Gestriol+goserelin acetate.	Gestriol+goserelin acetate.
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease10	156	Effective rate.	Zigong, Zhongji, Zusanli and Sanyinjiao.	2/100 Hz,10–30 mA	30 min each time, once each day, 8 weeks as a course.	TEAS+wild chrysanthemum bolt, anal plug.	Wild chrysanthemum bolt, anal plug.
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease46	195	Symptoms, signs, gynaecological examination, Doppler parameters, blood routine, liver and kidney functions.	Zigong, Zhongji, Zusanli and Sanyinjiao.	2/100 Hz,10–30 mA	30 min each time, once a day; one menstrual period is a course of treatment.	TEAS+Kangfu anti-inflammatory suppository, anal plug.	Kangfu anti-inflammatory suppository, anal plug.
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease47	108	Symptom score, B ultrasound examination, effective rate.	Zigong, Zhongji, Zusanli and Sanyinjiao.	2/100 Hz,10–30 mA	30 min each time, once a day, 8 weeks for a course of treatment.	TEAS+pelvic floor muscle exercise.	Fule chongji.
Intrauterine adhesions15	98	TCM syndrome score, hysteroscopic score, Doppler parameters.	Guanyuan, Guilai, Shenshu and Zigong.	40 Hz, 250 μs	30 min each time, once a day, 15 days as a cycle, a total of 3 months of treatment.	TEAS.	Estradiol valerate+progesterone.
Intrauterine adhesions16	80	Effective rate, menstrual status, Doppler parameters, pregnancy rate.	Tianshu, Guanyuan, Zhongji, Zigong and Sanyinjiao.	2 Hz,10–20 mA	30 min each time, once a day, lasts three menstrual cycles.	TEAS+estradiol valerate+progesterone.	Estradiol valerate+progesterone.
Pelvic congestion syndrome48	30	Effective rate, substance P, endorphin, Doppler parameters.	Ashi.	80–120 Hz, 80–120 μs	30 min each time, once every 3 days, 10 times for one course of treatment.	TEAS+pelvic floor rehabilitation treatment.	None.
Primary dysmenorrhoea49	72	VAS score, dysmenorrhoea symptom score.	Both sides of Sanyinjiao.	2/100 Hz,15–20 mA	25–30 min each time, once a day, starting 2 days before menstruation, five times per cycle, treatment of two menstrual cycles.	TEAS.	Chlorphen codeine tablets.
Primary dysmenorrhoea29	124	VAS score, PGF2α, PGE2α.	Sanyin, Zusanli, Xuehai and Hegu.	2/100 Hz	30 min each time, once a day; 1–2 days before menstrual cramps start, each cycle treatment five times, a total of three menstrual cycles.	TEAS.	Ibuprofen sustained-release capsules.
Primary dysmenorrhoea30	60	VAS score, adverse reactions, PGE2, cortisol.	Qihai, Hegu, Sanyinjiao, Xuehai and Zusanli.	2/100 Hz	30 min each time, once a day, 5 days in a row, a total of three menstrual cycles.	TEAS.	Motherwort granules.

ESSS, Endometriosis Symptom Severity Scale; NRS, Numerical Rating Scale; PGE2α, prostaglandin E2α; PGF2α, prostaglandin F2α; SF-36 quality of life score, the medical outcomes study –short (MOS) Item Short Form Health Survey; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; TEAS, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.