Can acupuncture help symptoms of an overactive bladder?

This study reviewed available research on the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture to treat overactive bladder. The study concluded that acupuncture may be effective in treating some symptoms of an overactive bladder.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common problem that causes urinary symptoms. These include needing to empty the bladder too often (frequency), getting up to empty the bladder during the night (nocturia), and leaking urine (incontinence). Treatments for OAB include medications that relax the bladder muscle. These medications, however, are associated with side effects such as headache and dry mouth.

Acupuncture uses pins to apply pressure to specific points in the body with attempt to gain a positive effect. Whether or not acupuncture can help to improve the symptoms of OAB is not clear.

This study reviewed the results of 10 other trials, including 794 patients. Studies compared acupuncture to a sham (fake) procedure, or to medications.

When compared to a sham procedure, acupuncture was associated with an average of 3.6 less daily urinations. Patients receiving acupuncture also reported less urinary urgency. However, this difference was not found to be statistically significant. Two of the trials reviewed noted a reduced number of nighttime trips to the bathroom (nocturia) with acupuncture, when compared to a sham procedure. No statistically significant difference was noted in episodes of urine leakage (incontinence) between acupuncture and the sham procedure.

Trials comparing acupuncture to treatment with OAB medications (such as tolterodine or solifenacin), showed inconsistent results. One trial reported higher quality of life questionnaire scores with acupuncture, while two other trials showed no difference.

Four trials compared tolterodine medication alone to acupuncture plus tolterodine. Again, results were inconsistent. Two of the trials showed a significant reduction in the number of daily voids with acupuncture, while the remaining two showed little difference.

No side-effects to acupuncture were reported in the trials reviewed. 

The researchers concluded that acupuncture may assist in relieving some overactive bladder symptoms, however evidence is inconclusive.

This systematic review included only a small number of limited studies. Large controlled studies would be useful to determine the benefit of acupuncture for overactive bladder patients.