Why Use Acupuncture for PCOS

Acupuncture works for PCOS – especially to support more regular menstrual cycles, balance hormones and regulate the sympathetic nervous system. There is solid evidence showing that acupuncture should be a first line approach for PCOS management and fertility.

PCOS TREATMENT PLAN: 15-20 weekly treatments of acupuncture.

When the  recommended plan and lifestyle changes are deeply committed to, three healthy regular menstrual cycles are often achieved within a 6-12 month treatment period.

Additional and more individual treatment goals are to get more quality sleep, reduce stress, lose weight, regulate blood sugar/insulin levels, reduce levels of circulating androgens estrogens luteinizing hormone, lower homocysteine levels, mediate inflammation, manage acne, eliminate excess hair growth, stop hair loss, promote regular ovulation & cycles, optimize overall reproductive health, optimize thyroid function, reduce chances of miscarriage and aid in carrying pregnancy to term.

How can acupuncture help with PCOS?

PLEASE – Check out these studies that support using ACUPUNCTURE for PCOS along with primary care from your OBGYN, ND or other health care provider.

**PLEASE NOTE: low frequency electroacupuncture (EA) is acupuncture with a mild electrical current being sent through specific needles

  • Low frequency electroacupuncture (EA) improved oocyte/egg growth in patients with PCOS
  • “Repeated EA treatments induce regular ovulations in more than one third of the women with PCOS.”
  • Low-frequency EA counteracted a possible prothrombotic state in women with PCOS.
  • Acupuncture could promote the recovery of menstrual cycles as well as downregulate the levels of LH and testosterone in patients with PCOS.
  • “Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment to PCOS as the adverse effects of pharmacologic interventions are not expected by women with PCOS.
  • Acupuncture therapy may have a role in PCOS by: increasing of blood flow to the ovaries, reducing of ovarian volume and the number of ovarian cysts, controlling hyperglycemia through increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing blood glucose and insulin levels, reducing cortisol levels and assisting in weight loss and anorexia.”
  • “A single bout of electroacupuncture results in muscle contractions and increased whole body glucose uptake in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)”
  • Low-frequency Electroacupuncture (EA): 38% improved menstrual frequency, decreased LH/FSH ratio and circulating testosterone (PCOS) (In total 14 treatments) Stener-Victorin et al. Acta Obstet Gynecol 2000;79:180-188.
  • Low-frequency EA: Ovulation induced in 6 of 13 menstrual cycles (PCOS) (Intotal 39 treatments) Chen BY, Yu J. Acupunct Electrother Res1991;16(1-2):1-5.
  • Auricular acupuncture: Pregnancy rates equivalent to those induced byhormonal treatment. Fewer side-effects and less miscarriages (Infertile women with hormonal disorders) (In total 12-14 treatments) Gerhard I, Postneek F. Gynecol Endocrinol1992;6(3):171-81.
  • Manual acupuncture: improved menstrual frequency, regulatory effects on  LH, FSH and estradiol (undefined ovulatory dysfunction) (Approx 30 treatments) Xiaoming MO, et al. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine1993;13(2):115-9

MORE EVIDENCE for ACUPUNCTURE AND PCOS

  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18047551/
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10716298
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12030806
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19494176
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11058557
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12725645
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6918519/
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10716298/
  • https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(11)02764-6/fulltext
  • https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2020/05290/effectiveness_of_acupuncture_in_polycystic_ovary.93.aspx
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20230329/
  • https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-17919-5