Acupuncture in Menopause (AIM)

• Objective Hot Flashes [ Time Frame: 3 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Objective hot flashes measured by skin conductance
• Other Symptoms [ Time Frame: Up to 14 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Quality of Life [ Time Frame: Up to 58 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Measures your quality of life over the last week

• Objective Hot Flashes [ Time Frame: 3 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Hot Flashes will be monitored by a Hot Flash Monitor that the participant will wear 3 days a month for the first six months of the study and then 3 days every other month for the remaining 6 months of the study. The participants are followed for approximately 1 year from enrollment.
• Other Symptoms [ Time Frame: weekly ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Participants will fill out a weekly symptom checklist for the entire year of the study.
• Quality of Life [ Time Frame: Monthly ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Particpants will fill out questionnaires regarding their quality of Life every month for the entire 12 months of the study.

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating vasomotor and other symptoms associated with menopause as acupuncture is generally practiced in the "real world" setting and to obtain a comprehensive assessment of use patterns and symptom relief over time. This study will allow us to determine treatment patterns recommended by practicing acupuncturists, adherence to these treatments, and the effectiveness of different treatment patterns for reducing hot flashes. Results of this study will provide meaningful information to women in terms of number and frequency of acupuncture treatments likely to be needed to reduce hot flashes.

• Experimental: Acupuncture
  This group will start acupuncture treatments within 3 weeks of consent and continue to receive up to 20 treatments over a six month period. The number of treatments will be jointly determined by the participant and the acupuncturist.
  Intervention: Procedure: Acupuncture
• Waitlist
  This group of participants will be asked to wait 6 months and will then be allowed to receive acupuncture.
  Intervention: Procedure: Acupuncture

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women experiencing on average 4 Hot Flashes a day
• Women aged 45-60
• Peri or Post menopausal Women (No periods for at least 3 months)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who have initiated CAM or non-CAM treatments for hot flashes in the last 4 weeks
• Women who have changed their dose of a CAM or non-CAM treatments for hot flashes in the last 4 weeks
• Women who have initiated antidepressants in the last 3 months
• Women who have changed their dose of an antidepressant in the last 3 months
• Women who have had acupuncture in the last 4 weeks
• Women who have received acupuncture from one of the study acupuncturists in the last 6 months will be excluded from the study
• Women who describe their health as fair or poor are excluded from the study
• Women who have a diagnosis of Hemophilia
• Relatives and Co-Workers of the treating acupuncturists