Acupressure therapy for primary dysmenorrhea: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is one of the most common causes of pelvic pain in women. The efficacy and safety of acupressure therapy for PD are controversial, and there are great differences among different acupoints. This protocol elucidates the methodology of systematic review and network Meta-analysis, aiming to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture pressure therapy for PD and compare the differences in therapeutic outcomes among various acupoint compression protocols. Search three English databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library Database) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, VIP Database, and Wanfang Database) for articles published up to September 1, 2025. All randomized controlled trials related to acupressure treatment for PD will be included. Data to be extracted will include publication details, basic information, demographic data, intervention details, and patient outcomes. The primary outcome was pain intensity. Secondary outcomes included improvement in pain symptoms, quality of life, and adverse reactions. Concurrently, a network Meta-analysis will be conducted using Stata (V.15.1) and RevMan (V.5.4). If data permits and is feasible, we will also perform meta-regression and subgroup analyses to address potential causes of data inconsistency and heterogeneity in statistical analysis. To improve the credibility of this network meta-analysis, we will evaluate the quality of evidence in this research according to the GRADE assessment. The findings of this study will elucidate the safety and efficacy of simple needle pressure therapy in the treatment of PD. If its therapeutic effects are confirmed, it may provide evidence-based decision support for policymakers, healthcare institutions, and female patients.