A 2014 PCOS acupuncture research study found that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine improved fertility and gynecological health in PCOS patients. Acupuncture and herbs outperformed drugs. Pregnancy rates, ovulation rates, endocrine secretions, and clinical symptoms improved significantly.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
The Mayo Clinic defines PCOS as “a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to release eggs regularly.”
Pregnancy Rates Increase with Acupuncture
The PCOS acupuncture research study, conducted at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, investigated ovulation and pregnancy rates in patients with PCOS. Group 1 received acupuncture, herbal medicine, and therapeutic exercises. Group 2 received a cocktail of medications comprising cyproterone (a progestin), ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen), and metformin. In the end, while both groups benefited from treatments, the acupuncture group outperformed the drug group.
The acupuncture group produced higher rates of ovulation (47%) and pregnancies (32%) in PCOS patients. In comparison, the medication protocol had a 40% ovulation rate and a 30% pregnancy rate.
Acupuncture Treatment
Patients in Group 1 received the following acupuncture points:
Guanyuan, CV4
Sanyinjiao, SP6
Shenshu, BL23
Acupuncturists applied gentle reinforcing and reducing techniques to the needles. Treatments lasted thirty minutes and were conducted daily from the end of menstruation until the next cycle started (approximately 23 days).
Daily exercise in the PCOS acupuncture research study consisted of slow jogging, five days a week, for thirty minutes. Exercise was stopped during menstruation and resumed afterward.
The Chinese herbal formula given to patients in Group 1 contained the following herbs:
Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranacei) 30 g
Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis) 30 g
Shan Zha (Fructus Crataegi) 30 g
Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) 30 g
Practitioners brewed the herbs in boiling water following herbal medicine protocols. Patients drank the decoction twice a day, in the morning and at night. They did not take herbs during menstruation.
Data Collection
Data in this PCOS acupuncture research study was measured and collected for the following values:
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone
body mass index (BMI)
ovarian volume
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
luteinizing hormone (LH)
testosterone (T)
fasting plasma glucose (FPG)
fasting insulin (FINS) level
insulin rating changes
pregnancy rates
ovulation rates
PCOS Acupuncture Research Results
The acupuncture group saw higher ovulation and pregnancy rates than the drug therapy group. The findings were consistent with prior research. Sun et al. concluded that acupuncture improves “the normal transformation of ovarian androgen to estrogen” and regulates cytochrome P450 (CYP), an oxidative enzyme. Jedel et al. concluded that acupuncture improved menstrual frequency, balanced sex steroid levels, and reduced acne in women with PCOS.
Next Steps
The findings in this PCOS Acupuncture Research support our own clinical experience at Raleigh Acupuncture. We have helped women with PCOS regulate their cycles and overcome infertility to get pregnant.
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References
Bai, S. L., Jiang, X. H., Li, Y. L., Huang, W. Q., Wang, L. & Liu, X. Z. (2014). The effect of weight-loss herbal decoction combined with acupuncture and exercise on endocrine markers and pregnancy outcomes in non-obesity patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Chinese Journal of Family Planning. 22(8).
Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Papavassiliou AG. Molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome. Trends Mol Med JT – Trends in molecular medicine, 2006, 12(7):324.
Sun, J., J. M. Zhao, R. Ji, H. R. Liu, Y. Shi, and C. L. Jin. “Effects of electroacupuncture on polycystic ovary syndrome.” Acupuncture research 38, no. 6 (2013): 465-472.
Elizabeth Jedel. Impact of electroacupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenism and oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 300: E37–E45, 2011.
What our Clients are Saying
I was unable to get pregnant. The fertility clinic diagnosed me with PCOS. We were not in a position to pay for IVF (they said my condition would make it very hard to get pregnant on my own). My internet research led me to Raleigh Acupuncture. Jade was wonderful. Her treatments got my cycle normal for the first time in my life. After that I got pregnant! I’m very grateful for her skill and care.
I love Raleigh Acupuncture! I went for infertility. I was a mess. My period came every two weeks and was really uncomfortable. I was anemic and the iron supplements were giving me terrible constipation. I also had PCOS. I didn’t even know if I was ovulating. The treatments totally fixed my cycle. After four months I was getting my period every four weeks and my anemia was gone. They taught me how to know when I was ovulating and the “best time” to get pregnant. It worked. I’m three months pregnant right now and very happy. They totally changed my life. Thank you Raleigh Acupuncture!!
