Finding Hope with PCOS: How Acupuncture Can Help Regulate Cycles and Support Pregnancy

Finding Hope with PCOS: How Acupuncture Can Help Regulate Cycles and Support Pregnancy

by | Sep 1, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

How Acupuncture Supports Women with PCOS and Infertility

For the past 24 years of clinical practice, I’ve had the privilege of helping women struggling with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) regain their cycles, restore hormonal balance, and in many cases, achieve their dream of pregnancy.

Many of these women came to me with similar challenges:

  • Some had no menstrual cycle at all.

  • Others experienced only a few cycles per year.

  • Many had irregular, unpredictable periods.

But they all shared one thing in common: infertility.

Through collaborative work with physicians, I was able to demonstrate how acupuncture can complement medical care. With regular treatments, women who were previously unable to ovulate began to see their cycles regulate. In some cases, even with medications such as metformin, patients were still not ovulating or releasing eggs monthly. Acupuncture provided the missing piece.

Why Metformin Is Prescribed for PCOS

Metformin is commonly prescribed for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) because it addresses the underlying issue of insulin resistance. This can lead to:

  • Improved insulin sensitivity

  • Lower androgen levels

  • More regular menstrual cycles

  • Increased chances of ovulation and conception

Beyond fertility, metformin may also offer long-term health benefits by potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers associated with PCOS.

Success Rates in My Practice

Over the years, about 70% of my PCOS patients conceived, either naturally or with the assistance of IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilization) combined with acupuncture.

This month, for example, one of my patients — in her late 30s, with very low AMH (0.36), a slightly elevated FSH, and a history of 3 failed IUIs — began treatment with me after a friend’s referral. Although she had a low ovarian reserve and egg quality was a concern, we focused on restoring her body’s natural rhythm through acupuncture.

After just five acupuncture sessions prior to her IUI, she had a confirmed positive pregnancy (β-hCG above 300).

We will continue to follow her through pregnancy with a protocol of:

  • Weekly treatments until 12 weeks

  • Biweekly until 20 weeks (after ultrasound confirmation of a stable pregnancy)

  • Monthly sessions until 35 weeks, when we begin preparing her body for labor

Why Acupuncture Helps with PCOS

Clinical studies show that acupuncture can help PCOS patients by:

  • Regulating hormone levels (T3, T4, LH, FSH, Testosterone)

  • Improving menstrual frequency and stimulating ovulation

  • Enhancing ovarian blood flow

  • Reducing insulin resistance and supporting weight management

  • Decreasing cortisol and stress hormones

  • Lowering androgen levels, helping with acne and hirsutism

  • Normalizing estrogen activity

For example, a study by Stener-Victorin et al. found that electroacupuncture increased the percentage of ovulatory cycles from 15% to 66% in women with PCOS.

Beyond Fertility: Managing PCOS Day to Day

PCOS is not only about fertility — it also impacts overall health and quality of life. Symptoms may include:

  • Irregular or absent periods

  • Excess androgens causing acne, hair growth, or hair loss

  • Multiple ovarian cysts

  • Weight gain linked to insulin resistance

Our comprehensive approach at the clinic includes:

  • Targeted supplements and herbal medicine to promote ovulation and reduce inflammation

  • Personalized diet and lifestyle recommendations to address insulin resistance

  • Exercise guidance, including resistance training and cardiovascular exercise

  • Acupuncture treatments tailored to cycle regulation, ovulation, and stress management

Hope and Healing for Women with PCOS

PCOS affects nearly 2 million women in Canada, and about half may not even know they have it. If you are struggling with irregular cycles, infertility, or other PCOS-related symptoms, know that there is hope.

With a combination of acupuncture, lifestyle strategies, metformin when appropriate, and collaboration with your medical team, we can create a treatment plan that supports your fertility and improves your quality of life.

If you have not yet tried acupuncture for PCOS — this is your chance. Many gynecologists are now referring patients to our clinic after seeing the results firsthand.