Menstrual Health & Acupuncture

A healthy menstrual cycle can provide valuable information about a person’s broader reproductive and hormonal health. Changes in cycle length, bleeding, pain, flow or premenstrual symptoms can significantly affect day-to-day wellbeing.

Common menstrual concerns include painful periods, irregular cycles, heavy or light bleeding, PMS, headaches, bloating, mood changes and fatigue. Menstrual changes can also occur alongside conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Acupuncture for Menstrual Health

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine may be used as a complementary approach to support menstrual health and manage symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle.

Treatment is individualised according to where you are within your cycle and the symptoms you experience. Rather than treating period pain, PMS or irregularity in isolation, we look at the menstrual cycle as a whole.

For people with endometriosis, treatment may focus on supporting the management of symptoms such as period pain, pelvic pain and other cycle-related symptoms. For people with PCOS, treatment may focus on menstrual cycle regularity, ovulation and associated symptoms, depending on the individual’s presentation.

Where appropriate, acupuncture may also be combined with Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese medicine dietetics and lifestyle advice.

The Menstrual Cycle Through a Chinese Medicine Lens

Chinese medicine places considerable importance on the menstrual cycle and recognises that similar symptoms can arise from very different underlying patterns.

Treatment may consider cycle length and regularity, the colour and volume of menstrual blood, clotting, pain, ovulation, cervical mucus, PMS, digestion, sleep, stress and energy levels.

By understanding these patterns, treatment can be tailored to both the symptoms themselves and the underlying Chinese medicine pattern contributing to the menstrual presentation.

Persistent changes to your menstrual cycle, very heavy bleeding, severe pain or unexplained irregularity should also be appropriately medically investigated.

If your menstrual cycle is affecting your health or quality of life, or you are living with endometriosis or PCOS, please GET IN TOUCH to discuss whether acupuncture or Chinese medicine may be helpful.