I was recently asked by one lovely lady to look into the benefits of using acupuncture with PCOS. Now, this strays a little bit away from my usual PCOS Diet posts but I have to say that I was intrigued and decided it was worth investigating.
You see, I have a medical background and have been well-trained to look for the evidence and reasoning behind things. In my Westernised, medical mind, acupuncture has never been on my radar.[blockquote align=”right”]In my Westernised, medical mind, acupuncture has never been on my radar[/blockquote]
So when I was asked to do some research, I couldn’t help myself. I needed to know the ins and outs of why acupuncture could be beneficial for PCOS and whether I have been missing out on something that could help me. I found a lot of information, too much for one post. So, this will be done over two posts. To really understand the benefits of acupuncture for PCOS, we’re going to need to get a little medical and dig deeper so bear with me.
Here is what I found:
What is acupuncture?
According to Wikipedia, “Acupuncture is a collection of procedures which involves the stimulation of points on the body using a variety of techniques, such as penetrating the skin with needles that are then manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.” (1)
It is a traditional Chinese medicine that is based on the belief that any illness or pain is caused by a blockage in the flow of vital energy or “qi”. Acupuncturists insert needles into specific acupuncture points in an attempt to unblock the flow of qi and restore balance to the body. (2)
There is no scientific evidence that qi exists or that the body has meridians or acupuncture points. But, there is research that proves that acupuncture is more effective than a placebo.
So, clearly acupuncture must do something to the body, but what? How does acupuncture work?
Which type of acupuncture for PCOS?
From what I have read in the medical research, the type of acupuncture most frequently spoken of is electro-acupuncture. This is when a small electric current is sent through the needle into the muscle. Two needles are used so that a circuit is set up. The current is a continuous pulsating current and is applied for no more than 30 minutes. Also, more than two needles can be stimulated at any given time. (3)
How does it help PCOS?
From what I understand, there seem to be two ways in which acupuncture helps women with PCOS.
Okay, this is going to get Geeky but we need to understand some things about the body to understand how acupuncture works.
The needle is inserted into the skin and underlying muscle. The needle and electric stimulation causes the muscle to send information to the brain, via the spinal cord. If the needle is inserted into the area that sends sensory information about the ovary to the brain, it leads to a decrease in the release of male hormones from the ovaries.
And we know that these androgens or male hormones are responsible for a lot of our symptoms of PCOS.
The other way that acupuncture work is by acting on the system in the brain that releases hormones or the neuroendocrine system. It leads to a decrease in the release of luteinizing hormone which again leads to a decrease in the release of male hormones from the ovaries. (4)
Summing it Up
So, this sounding good! We’re saying that acupuncture can ultimately work on our hormone or endocrine system and directly on our ovaries to lower the release of male hormones which will lead to an improvement in our PCOS symptoms.
I’m almost tempted to try it, if only if it weren’t for my massive fear of needles! In the next article, we’ll look more closely at how often you should go, how long the treatment will take and we’ll also have a look at what the research says in terms of success rates and improvements in hormones.
This is a very high level overview of how things work. If you’re a bit of a geek like me and want more detailed information, we can jump down the rabbit hole and go into a deeper explanation. Just leave me a comment below and we can have more of a discussion about it!
Also, if you have tried acupuncture to manage your PCOS, I would love to hear from you! Please leave me a comment below letting me know if you loved it or hated it and if you feel that it helped your symptoms!
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137 Responses
I have PCOS and acupuncture helped me to ovulate and get regular periods so I could get pregnant. It also helped me carry my pregnancy to term and to turn my daughter when she had been in breech position at the end of my pregnancy.
Before acupuncture, even with the right diet, lifestyle, and supplements, I was still only getting a period every 40-50 days; I felt awful. But when I would go, my period would come regularly every 32 days, and I would feel so much better. I went to acupuncture biweekly to get a regular period, and weekly once I started trying to get pregnant. I also went weekly once I got a positive pregnancy test and my acupuncturist did something called the “holding point” to help prevent miscarriage. Then, in my third trimester, when my daughter flipped into breech position, I went for 4-5 sessions of acupuncture with moxibustion; on the night of my scheduled c-section, they did an ultrasound and found she had turned head-down again! I had a normal vaginal delivery 3 days later! I don’t think I would have had all the success I did getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy without my acupuncturist; if you are interested in getting acupuncture, be sure to do your research, read reviews, etc. to find someone really good! I think having a good acupuncturist really helps!
I’ve been going for acupuncture 2x a month for over a year now. I’ve also become a pescatarian and taking numerous supplements directed by my naturopath.
I have found my stress levels have decreased and my periods have been regulated to a 28 day cycle. I don’t get PMS as much, but still do have my 1st day cramping.
My favourite part of acupuncture is that it makes me take 30 min to relax away from everything. My phone is on silent, I have no external distractions and I get to meditate doing my “belly breaths” as my naturo calls them. It has calmed me overall.
I started seeing her after my 2nd failed FET and I was completely devastated (we have 1 chance left). Between her kind nature and having acupuncture, I don’t think I would have managed for the past year.
I had acupuncture specifically done for infertility once a week for 9 months. My menstrual cramps completely disappeared. This was great given that I always have had very strong cramps. However, considering the cost of acupuncture, this was not the result I was looking for. I could have cared less about my menstrual cramps, I only wanted to conceive a child. In the case of PCOS, I feel that a low carb diet is crucial otherwise no amount of vitamins, supplements, or therapies like accupuncture or going to do a thing.
Hi Tarryn,
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was unsuccessful at trying to get pregnant with my husband. We eventually had to have IVF and when I started all the medications I started acupuncture specifically to increase success for the IVF. The first implantation worked and we had a baby boy.
We soon tried for another baby because we were worried about how long the process was going to be. I tried one IVF cycle without acupuncture and it was unsuccessful. I decided for the next round I would start back the acupuncture and it worked. We now have a baby girl. I would say acupuncture definitely helped for me!
Hi,
I was diagnosed with PCOS since I was 16 years old, probably had it way before that though. When my husband and I got married back in 2012 we started trying as soon as possible because we knew it was not going to be easy. Fast forward to December 2017 after all the clomid, metformin, provera, and 3 failed IUI’s with provera, letrozole with trigger shot I finally decided to try Acupuncture or so I call “my spa day sessions” . The first month I went in every week and then started every other week, my Acupuncturist also game me a herbal to take every evening/night. After about 3 months we got pregnant, first time ever having a positive test in our 6 years of trying for a baby! Sadly our happiness did not last very long and I had a missed miscarriage. my story may not be a happy ending but I can tell you this, I don’t know what it is with acupuncture but I know it works some how. I felt relaxed and with lots of energy, and my sleep got better. I do highly recommend it, not only for the beneficial it has for PCOS but because you just feel like you are flowing on air after your session that how relax you get. Its so worth a try. As of right now we are back to Provera and Letozole and thinking of going to Acupuncture during my menstrual days and fertile window. GOOD LUCK TO ALL and lots of baby dust for you!
Hi Tarryn,
I have been seeing a chiropractor thats way more on the alternative medicine spectrum than most, she does accupressure and suggests certain herbal supplements to take depending on what my body is seeming to need at the time. I’m a plus size gal that’s probably had PCOS for as long as I can remember but diagnosed in 2010. I was put on metformin and lost some weight through proper nutrition and exercise and got pregnant with and had my daughter in 2012. We have been struggling ever since to conceive again. We even tried clomid and had mixed results but eventually went to see a reproductive endocrinologist. He did hysterosalpingogram and possibly cleared some small adhesions in my Fallopian tubes. He also did a hysteroscopy where he said he found a small septum in my uterus and removed it…this is still up for debate. I did lose some weight last year after refusing to pay thousands of dollars for IUI and more meds with injections and frequent monitoring…and became pregnant but unfortunately I had a miscarriage at 11 weeks. I started seeing my new chiropractor in December and for 3 months in a row I started my period spontaneously when usually I have to take progesterone monthly to induce a cycle. I really believe she’s helping me to get back to where I need to be. She currently had me taking Illicium which is a supplement that has star anise in it which helps with pelvic congestion. I know my body can do it but I’ve been struggling to get back on my meal planning and cooking back at home etc but I’ve started walking again and trying to eat better as often as I can until it becomes more of a habit. Fingers crossed for a positive pregnancy test this month. I’ve had some good signs! I know this post is long but I’m hoping that it will help someone who’s struggling with the same situation!!
Hi Tarryn,
I have just started acupuncture this week to help treat my IBS and constipation. I have had 2 sessions so far and have definitely felt different after each treatment. I also plan to have my PCOS treated also if I have success with the IBS.
I will keep you updated on my journey.
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Hello!
I wasn’t diagnosed with pcos until I was 24, but I tried acupuncture in high school when I got horrible shin splints from playing soccer. I also started getting a pain in my hip that I now think was a symptom of cysts developing. I mentioned the pain when I was receiving treatments for my shin splints, she started also treating my hip and the pain went away for a few years, at the time I was also having very irregular only having a period once a year or so. I currently am trying acupuncture again , it is working wonders! I had another ultra sound and there is no sight of cysts on my left ovary! Still continuing treatments on my right, feeling hopeful as my cycles have regulated as well!
Good Luck Ladies!!!
Hello,
I am having PCOS for almost now more than 10 years,and I get my period once a year. Recently I have started with accupunture treatment,but I am not convinced whether it will really work. Your post is really helpful ,but still I am not able to decide whether I should take the treatment or not.
I used acupuncture to help me lose weight when I got to 132kg, It has helped me get my weight down 18.5kg and my periods have started to become somewhat within a normal range. I get acupuncture on my stomach and they are magnetically treated in the back. I also get help with acne on my lower jaw with acupuncture. I did this in conjunction with Chinese medicine. Average 1kg a week, when I nearly found losing weight impossible.
Hello. I have pcos and had it sice ten years. I did not have any problems conceiving. But in the past three years i have gained ten kgs. I am currently on metformin but nothing is helping.
What kind of acupuncture did u do and what chinese medication did you try?
Was there a specific type of acupuncture you tried?
Hi Tarryn,
I’ve tried acupuncture in the past and it helped me tremendously. I didn’t use it for treating PCOS but depression, allergies, ADD and general wellbeing. At the time I started my treatments I was on medication for my depression and ADD. After my acupuncturist began treating me eventually I was able to get off all my medication completely. My depression went away and my allergies and ADD got better. It changed my life! So, I’m curious about how it could help me with my PCOS. I believe it will make a difference as it helps so many other things why not this one too? I look forward to your next article and perhaps going back to help my PCOS. By the way, the needles they use are super tiny and they are very gentle when inserting them – you don’t even feel it. I highly recommend giving it a try!
Take care!
Ashley
So I started the gluten/dairy free diet 6 weeks ago along with exercising and the vitamin d supplement you recommended and the inositol. Then i have been using the progesterone cream that you recommended as well for the last week. I have an appointment today to do acupuncture. Was not sure if you recommend doing the chinese medicine that they reccomned though? Wondering if you need that to start your period as well or if just doing the procedure itself alone will be enough to start my period on my own? I am a lean person with PCOS and am a little nervous just because the last time I talked to them they told me that I am more “complicated to fix” he doesn’t guarantee the acupuncture will work but I am just having faith that with everything I am doing it will! Been trying to conceive for 7 years with many surgeries, drugs, iui’s and IVF that have all failed I still have hope that I can start my period on my own:) I really hope this all works!!!
Would you recommend doing acupuncture with Chinese medicine for pcos or just acupuncture alone?
Today will be my first acupuncture appointment! I am extremely excited! We have been trying for four years. I have had several rounds of clomid and femara plus three rounds of unsuccessful IUI. I have the type of PCOS that is insulin sensitive. My husband and I will be undergoing acupuncture together. I hope to follow-up with good news!
How was your session? Up to now, any progress or if you’re already pregnant now?
Hi Tarryn,
I am really interested to learn more about acupuncture for PCOS or any other research on PCOS that you have. I always like reading more scientific stuff than just articles (although I really like the ones on your web
Oops, comment was not yet finished and I touched the post comment button. Anyway, if you have scientific research on this topic I would be really interested in reading that!
Hello, just read this which you may find helpful (quite scientific didnt understand much thats how i ended up back on Tarryn’s website) Hope you find it helpful!!
https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z-of-conditions/a-to-z-of-conditions/pcos.html
I have been having acupuncture treatments for my PCOS for about a year now. For the first several months my acupuncturist had me come in weekly, then bi weekly, now I visit once a month, though if my insurance would cover twice a month I would be doing that! I never thought it was helping, until I stopped getting treatments for nearly two months. So many symptoms had lessened that I didn’t even realize until their return. Highly recommend it!
I’ve been having acupuncture regularly, twice a month, for 8 months now. I have a regular cycle now for the first time in my life, also when my session falls right before the period it really helps to decrase the pms and any pain. It’s a chinese acupuncture, not the electro-acupuncture or anything like that. It really worked for me, along with the advice from acupunturist about diet etc., but I know that it might not be for everyone.
Hi Daria,
I have irregular periods and pcos too and am looking into starting acupuncture.
Did acupuncture help you ovulate or conceive?
Thanks,
Nancy
I had first acupuncture treatment last Friday and my period started this morning.