ACUPUNCTURE > GYNECOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Acupuncture is an ideal treatment to bring balance and relief to women suffering from troublesome menopausal symptoms. Menopausal symptoms are common, and depending on their severity, can have a major impact on quality of life, health and well-being, as well as productivity. Research has concluded that acupuncture offers a realistic treatment option for women who can’t, or don’t want to use hormone replacement therapy. 

Recent clinical studies show extremely positive results in dealing with the bothersome symptoms of menopause. Furthermore,the World Health Organization recognizes that acupuncture effectively treats menopausal symptoms.

Women with insomnia in Menopause

In addition, research has documented a significant reduction in both the frequency and intensity of hot flashes in women who used acupuncture compared to those who used traditional methods for dealing with menopause.

Sleep disturbances such as insomnia are extremely common, in women after menopause. Acupuncture is very effective in regulating sleep disorders and alleviating insomnia in menopausal women. Therefore, the quality of sleep is significantly improved, thus enabling them to continue with their daily routine without being tired, exhausted or depressed.

Advantages of Acupuncture in women with Menopause

• Absence of harmful and dangerous side effects
• It is not specific but adaptable to each case
• Deadly side effects of hormonal replacement: you can avoid heart attacks and breast cancer 
• Good Results are gained even when all else fails
• Patients notice a substantial difference with regular treatments
• Partial relief is expected immediately even with the first session
• It is generally painless
• Visible and significant long-lasting benefits

References

• Zhao FY, Zheng Z, Fu QQ, Conduit R, Xu H, Wang HR, Huang YL, Jiang T, Zhang WJ, Kennedy GA. Acupuncture for comorbid depression and insomnia in perimenopause: A feasibility patient-assessor-blinded, randomized, and sham-controlled clinical trial. Front Public Health. 2023 Feb 6;11:1120567.
• Li S, Wang Z, Wu H, Yue H, Yin P, Zhang W, Lao L, Mi Y, Xu S. Electroacupuncture versus Sham Acupuncture for Perimenopausal Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Nat Sci Sleep. 2020 Dec 22;12:1201-1213.

Dysmenorrhea, commonly known as menstrual pains or cramps, is caused by uterine contractions. Dysmenorrhea constitutes one of the most frequent disorders in women of a fertile age. This condition is a special entity of chronic pelvic pain that manifests itself with intense pain in the lower abdomen, before during or after a woman’s period. Acupuncture has been found to be very efficient in the management of period pains. 

Primary dysmenorrhea refers to recurrent pain, while secondary dysmenorrhea results from reproductive system disorders. This pelvic pain, lasts from a few hours to days.

It can also be accompanied by:

• lower back pain,
• vomiting,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• headache and
• exhaustion. 

Acupuncture for the management of period pains.

Acupuncture for the management of period pains

A number of scientific studies suggest that in many cases acupuncture relieves dysmenorroia more successfully than drugs. Furthermore, many women have reported excellent results from the very first session of acupuncture.

Acupuncture treatment caters for each individual’s needs, thus, will vary according to the nature and location of the pain as well as the cause that has created the problem. As well as alleviating the menstrual pain, the patient will also notice an improvement in her psychological mood and an increase in energy during her acupuncture therapy.

Acupuncture treatments need to take place at specific times of the menstrual cycle and approximately three cycles are required. Depending on the nature of the problem an improvement in symptoms can be observed even after the first month of treatments.

References

• Smith CA, Armour M, Zhu X, Li X, Lu ZY, Song J. Acupuncture for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Apr.
• Kang HS, Jeong D, Kim DI, Lee MS. The use of acupuncture for managing gynaecologic conditions: An overview of systematic reviews. Maturitas. 2011 Apr; 68(4):346-54. Epub 2011 Mar 3.
• Armour M, Dahlen HG, Smith CA. More Than Needles: The Importance of Explanations and Self-Care Advice in Treating Primary Dysmenorrhea with Acupuncture. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016.

Infertility, for many women and men, may be a result of an imbalance, whether caused by hormones or stress. Acupuncture is about restoring balance and overall health and wellbeing. It involves the insertion of very thin, sterile needles into strategic points in the bod. Stimulating these points, or pathways, is believed to correct any imbalance in energy, or chi.

Furthermore, research shows that acupuncture treatment is more successful in increasing the IVF pregnancy rate and especially if it is administered at all stages of IVF.

Studies have shown that acupuncture can help Infertility as it:

• Regulates the menstrual cycle
• Balances hormones
• Improves blood flow to the reproductive organs
• Improves sperm count and motility
• Decreases risk of miscarriage
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves the chance of pregnancy in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)

There’s also evidence that acupuncture can help with some medical conditions that affect fertility, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and fibroids.

Acupuncture for Infertility

Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when the endometrium — the tissue that lines the uterus — grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis typically involves the tissue lining the pelvis, ovaries, or fallopian tubes and rarely spreads beyond the pelvic organs and is often quite painful. The heavy bleeding, backache, severe cramping, and abdominal pain and swelling that often accompany endometriosis are very receptive to acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture restores flow to the blood and the Qi, thus, relieving the stagnation.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE TREAT ENDOMETRIOSIS?
According to current research, acupuncture seems to promote blood circulation and regulate hormones. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect and is effective for pain relief because of its effect on blood chemistry and in particular endorphin levels. Some research has even found acupuncture to be more effective than hormone drug therapy for the treatment of endometriosis, that is Acupuncture:

• Relieves menstrual pain due to endometriosis,
• Reduces the size of pelvic masses,
• Lowers CA125 levels, and
• Reduces the recurrence rate of endometriosis. 

References 

Liang, R., Li, P., Peng, X. et al. Efficacy of acupuncture on pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis: study protocol for a randomized, single-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled trial.

Xu Y, Zhao W, Li T, Zhao Y, Bu H, Song S. Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017;12(10).

Shen Q, Lu J. Clinical Observation of Acupuncture-moxibustion for Endometriosis J. Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 2017, 36 (6).

Studies consistently show that ancient Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help alleviate many health problems modern women face today. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can address symptoms associated with menstruation, whether they are emotional or physical, or a combination of both. Young women suffering from dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) and premenstrual syndrome can be relieved with acupuncture therapy. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramps, acne, amenorrhea,  breast pain, depression and excessive irregular periods can be successfully addressed with acupuncture treatments.

Acupuncture contributes to women’s better quality of life of , as it normalizes the menstrual cycle and also helps to reduce the number and intensity of symptoms caused by the  premenstrual syndrome.

Several studies have found that women trying to conceive, who get acupuncture treatments, whether to treat infertility conditions or to increase the chances of a successful IVF have a higher rate of pregnancy and births. An overview of the use of acupuncture in gynecology states that acupuncture regulates blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, and also regulates the release of neurotransmitters, which in turn can stimulate the secretion of the gonadotropin releasing hormone, thereby affecting the menstrual cycle, ovulation and fertility.

Acupuncture can relieve the lower back and pelvic discomfort associated with pregnancy, as well as the morning sickness. After delivery, many women find acupuncture treatments essential for rebuilding their Qi and blood, increasing milk supply, and dealing with postpartum depression. After a birth, acupuncture will help restore and replenish the new mother’s energy.

For menopausal women, hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disturbances can be greatly reduced so that the woman can glide smoothly into this transition in life. Acupuncture therapy achieves the cessation of excessive sweating, the restoration of calm and relaxation and enhances the quality of sleep.

References

Napadow V, Ahn A, Longhurst J, Lao L, Stener-Victorin E, Harris R, Langevin HMJ The status and future of acupuncture mechanism research. Altern Complement Med. 2008 Sep; 14(7):861-9.

Ma YX, Ye XN, Liu CZ, Cai PY, Li ZF, Du DQ, Guo G, Chen SZ, Zhao JP, Liu JJ, Yi HQ, Gao SZJ Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Jul 9; 148(2):498-504).

Suzanne Cochrane , Caroline A Smith, Alphia Possamai-Inesedy and Alan Bensoussan Int J Womens Health. 2014; 6: 313–325. Published online 2014 Mar 17.