Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Acupuncture

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Acupuncture

Acupuncture may be used to treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a relatively common endocrine disorder. Up to 26.7% of  women between the age of 15 and 44 suffer from PCOS worldwide. As a ‘syndrome,’ PCOS is a group of symptoms affecting the female reproductive system. The disorder is mainly characterised by:

  • Prolonged and infrequent menstrual periods
  • High level of androgens (male hormones) and low levels of female reproductive hormones (progesterone and estrogen)
  • Ovary cysts – numerous small follicles (collections of fluids)

It is estimated that nearly 70% of women living with PCOS have not been effectively diagnosed. This is a concerning statistic because PCOS can lead to a variety of diseases if left untreated. Some things it may lead to are: infertility, diabetes, liver inflammation, sleep apnea, metabolic syndromes, mental disorders, miscarriage, and cancer.

Causes and Symptoms of PCOS

Despite potentially severe complications, the exact causes of PCOS are not clear. PCOS is associated with an increased level of the male hormone androgen, which hinders the normal functioning of the ovaries. Inflammation, genes, and insulin have all been linked to androgen production.

  • Insulin: The excess production of insulin by the pancreas stimulates the production of androgens, hindering ovulation. Studies show that 70% of PCOS patients are also diagnosed with insulin resistance.
  • Genes: Numerous scientific studies suggest that PCOS is hereditary
  • Inflammation: One study on PCOS claimed that markers of oxidation are highly correlated to circulating androgens in PCOS.
Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for PCOS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Endometriosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Signs and symptoms of PCOS present themselves at different stages of a woman’s reproductive life, starting fromher first menstrual period. Possible symptoms for the diagnosis of PCOS include:

  • Excess hair growth on the chest, belly, back, and face.
  • Acne breakouts due to oily skin associated with androgens
  • Heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding
  • Headaches due to hormonal changes
  • Baldness
  • Weight gain

Diagnosis and Treatment of PCOS

Diagnosis of PCOS follows the three characterising traits highlighted earlier (i.e. irregular menstrual cycles, androgen levels, and ovary cysts). A doctor may conduct a physical exam to identify signs of weight gain and excess hair, run a pelvic exam, a blood test to measure hormone levels, and an ultrasound to check the appearance of ovaries. Depending on the findings of the tests, a doctor may recommend the following treatments:

  • Medications: Pharmaceutical medication for PCOS includes birth control pills, progestin therapy, diabetes medication, and hair removal treatments.
  • Lifestyle changes: To mitigate the adverse effects and symptoms of PCOS, you may be asked to limit your carbohydrate intake and exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight.
  • Surgery: If other conventional treatments do not work, doctors may suggest ovarian drilling to restore normal ovulation.

Acupuncture as an Alternative Treatment for PCOS

Some women diagnosed with PCOS seek alternative treatments to manage the symptoms of the disorder. Acupuncture is among the most sought-after alternative treatments and recent scientific evidence supports its safety and efficacy. Acupuncture needles are placed along specific meridians to promote reproductive health.

Click to fill in the questionnaire now

Leave Comment

Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.