Smith, C.Crowther, C.Beilby, J.2006-06-242006-06-242002Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2002; 10(2):78-830965-22991873-6963http://hdl.handle.net/2440/8126Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.Objectives: Recent studies have concluded that acupuncture is safe in the hands of a qualified practitioner. This study assessed the risk of adverse effects of acupuncture administered during pregnancy. Methods: 593 women with nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy volunteered to participate in a randomised controlled trial, conducted at the Women's and Children's Hospital, in South Australia. Patients were given either traditional acupuncture, formula acupuncture, sham acupuncture or no acupuncture. Outcome Measures: Data were collected on perinatal outcome, congenital abnormalities, pregnancy complications and the newborn. Results: No differences were found between study groups in the incidence of perinatal outcome, congenital abnormalities, pregnancy complications and other infant outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that no serious adverse effects arise from acupuncture administered in early pregnancy.enHumansPregnancy ComplicationsHyperemesis GravidarumNauseaPregnancy OutcomeTreatment OutcomeAcupuncture TherapySeverity of Illness IndexPregnancyPregnancy Trimester, FirstAdultPatient ParticipationPatient SatisfactionSouth AustraliaFemaleJournal article002002072610.1054/ctim.2002.05230001782112000052-s2.0-003659152460204Crowther, C. [0000-0002-9079-4451]