Abdullah M Nasrat, Salwa AM Nasrat, Randa M Nasrat, Mohammad M Nasrat
The study aimed to demonstrate the effect of blood-let out cupping therapy in female pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). PCS in females is a condition that is difficult to diagnose; a specific diagnosis for the condition is often difficult, no diagnosis is made in 60% of patients. Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common and disabling condition affecting women of childbearing age; PCS is a recognized cause of CPP. PCS is commonly considered in three pathologic forms; premenstrual, menstrual and chronic pelvic congestion. Pain during menstruation (dysmenorrhea), pain with coitus (dyspareunia), post-coital ache and recurrent chronic pelvic discomfort of vague origin constitute the particular components of pain profiles encountered with pelvic pain syndrome. Pelvic congestion and pelvic inflammatory conditions constitute the underlying etiology in a significant proportion of patients with CPP. Treatment of PCS is above all medical, based upon decongestive and anti-inflammatory agents. Cupping blood-letting out therapy is therefore expected to have an effective therapeutic role in female PCS due to elimination of congestive and inflammatory elements from the pelvis. 80 sexually active female patients with different forms of pelvic pain had been included in this study. Pelvic and trans-vaginal Doppler ultrasound examinations were done routinely for all patients. All patients had undergone a modified traditional therapeutic procedure of suction cupping therapy with superficial skin scratching and suction. A total of 75% of patients expressed relief of their pain after cupping therapy. Blood-letting cupping therapy is promising in female PCS and could be an effective adjuvant measure beside therapeutic medications.