Acupuncture for Perimenopause

Perimenopause, whilst being a physiologically "normal" transition in a woman's life can be anything but. This period of life can also be a time of crippling and exhausting signs and symptoms which may impact your work, relationships and confidence.

Below we will look at how acupuncture might be benefit for your perimenopausal symptoms, if you are based in Hertfordshire or Central Bedfordshire

The signs and symptoms of perimenopause

The symptoms of perimenopause can vary from woman to woman, but can include:

Insomnia
Anxiety
Low libido
Hot flashes
Brain fog
Genitourinary symptoms
Burning mouth
Migraines
Joint pain

This is a fantastic checklist which can be very useful when you are talking your GP.

In a study conducted in 2023 of a cross-sectional online survey that discovered that the average number of symptoms experienced by women during perimenopause is approximately 10.

This is not in your head. Perimenopausal symptoms can be wide ranging and have a severe impact on your mental and physical health.

How do you diagnose perimenopause?

There is no definitive test for diagnosing perimenopause. Diagnosis is made based on signs and symptoms.

I urge my patients to take a log of "evidence" of signs and symptoms when talking to their GP.

I would however be asking that you rule out other conditions (that may or may not be also happening simultaneously) such as

Thyroid conditions
Other autoimmune conditions (which disproportionately affect women)
Vitamin D deficiency
Iron deficiency
Folate deficiency

Acupuncture for perimenopause

There have been numerous studies examining the efficacy of acupuncture on perimenopausal symptoms.

Hot flashes: in a 2015 meta-analysis they found that acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes with long-term effect (up to 3 months).
Insomnia: A 2015 review included 12 studies on acupuncture for sleep disorders in post- menopausal women. Overall, 75% reported improvements in sleep complaints following acupuncture treatment.
Anxiety: in a 2022 double-blinded randomized trial they found that both acupuncture and electroacupuncture have a similar effectiveness on reducing the anxiety levels and that only 5 sessions are needed to reduce anxiety to a lower degree, however, until the 10th session the anxiety levels continue to decrease.
Depression: in this 2023 study they found that acupuncture has clinical benefits and could be considered a safe option for managing depression

Treatment for perimenopause

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of perimenopause. Currently treatment options include:

HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)