Acupuncture and PCOS
Acupuncture is a 3,000 year-old traditional form of Chinese medicine used to promote health and treat disorders. It involves the use of very fine, sterile, disposable stainless steel needles placed at selected acupuncture points.
The practice of acupuncture is based on the understanding that a vital energy called "Qi" flows along pathways or meridians throughout the body. Each pathway is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. Acupuncture allows Qi to flow to areas where it is deficient and away from where it is in excess. If Qi is blocked or obstructed in its flow, pain or dysfunction may occur.
Acupuncture regulates and restores the harmonious energetic balance of the body, causing pain or illness to be resolved. Acupuncture points are places along the meridians near the body's surface where Qi can be manipulated by the insertion of acupuncture needles.
There are hundreds of acupuncture points and each point has a predictable therapeutic effect. Problems can be addressed by needling points close to and distant from the problem being treated, because the meridians run throughout the body. For example, a headache may be treated by placing needles in the head, hands and feet.
Upon insertion of an acupuncture needle, people may experience varying sensations, ranging from no pain at all, to a slight pinch, a feeling of heaviness, warmth and achiness or possibly tingling and an electric sensation. The needles are retained for 20-45 minutes and people often become deeply relaxed and sometimes even fall asleep. After needle removal, you may feel energized, sleepy or lighter. You may notice immediate improvement of your symptoms.
The number of acupuncture treatments depends on the duration, severity and nature of your problem. An acute condition may require only a single treatment. A series of 5 to 15 treatments may be necessary for many chronic problems. Some degenerative conditions may need many treatments and long-term maintenance.
Does Acupuncture Work?
The World Health Organization has developed a list of conditions that have proven to be treatable by Oriental medicine and acupuncture. The list contains physical injuries and numerous disorders including: ear, nose, eye, throat, gastrointestinal, gynecological, musculoskeletal, neurological, psychiatric, skin, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. Western doctors theorize that acupuncture somehow releases the body's natural pain killers called endorphins.
Acupuncture Improves Ovulation in PCOS Women
A study at Goteborg University in Sweden showed that acupuncture may help some PCOS women to ovulate. In this study, electro-acupuncture was used instead of traditional acupuncture. Electro-acupuncture, the application of a pulsating electrical current to acupuncture needles as a means of stimulating the acupuncture points, was developed in China as an extension of hand manipulation of acupuncture needles.
Twenty-four women with PCOS and infrequent or absent periods were included in this study. After 10-14 treatments for 2-3 months, nine women (38%) experienced regular ovulation. However, the electro-acupuncture was not effective in the more severe cases (obese, highest waist-to-hip ratio, and highest testosterone and insulin individuals).
For women with mild PCOS, acupuncture appears to help induce ovulation.
Source: Stener-Victorin E et al, Effects of electro-acupuncture on anovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2000 Mar;79(3):180-8
Acupuncture and In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
A recent study found that only 26% of women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) became pregnant compared to 43% who received acupuncture before and after IVF. This represents a nearly 50% increase in effectiveness of IVF when it is combined with acupuncture. Women in both groups were matched for age, number of transferred embryos and number of previous cycles among other criteria.
Since IVF is an expensive procedure, increasing pregnancy rates with acupuncture can save women both money as well as decrease emotional distress associated with the repeated use of this procedure.
Naturopathic physicians and acupuncturists who specialize in helping infertile couples have reported increased success for couples who have had failed attempts with fertility technology. Natural medicine and acupuncture have helped a significant number of women have their babies. These are anecdotal reports and the causes for the infertility are not exclusively due to PCOS.
The support that natural medicines provide to reproductive function and basic health will inevitably help restore fertility in some women. We look forward to more research to confirm this common-sense approach.
Source: Paulus, WE et al, Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy, Fertility and Sterility, April 2002, 77(4):721-724.
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