Acupuncture for PCOS

I offer acupuncture for PCOS from my clinic in Hitchin, supporting women from across North and East Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire who are looking for a root-cause approach. Whether you are trying to conceive or simply want to feel at home in your body again, my goal is to help you move from a state of "stuck" to a state of flow.

Can acupuncture help PCOS?

In my clinic, I don't treat "PCOS" as a generic label. I treat the specific hormonal environment playing out in your body. PCOS is rarely just one thing; it is a syndrome—a collection of symptoms driven by underlying mechanisms like inflammation, insulin resistance, and disrupted communication between your brain and your ovaries.

How does it work? The biological "Why"

PCOS often feels like a traffic jam in your endocrine system. From a clinical perspective, we often see elevated Luteinizing Hormone (LH), high androgens (male hormones), or high insulin levels.

Think of inflammation and stress as "static" on the radio line. When that static is too loud, your ovaries can’t hear the brain’s signal to ovulate. Acupuncture acts as a regulator. It helps turn down the volume on that stress response (calming cortisol) and clears the static, allowing the brain and ovaries to speak clearly to each other again.

Research suggests that acupuncture may help to:

Regulate Ovulation: By influencing the HPO axis (the command chain between the brain and ovaries).
Lower Androgens: Reducing the circulating hormones that contribute to acne and hair growth issues.
Improve Insulin Sensitivity: This is crucial, as insulin resistance is often the engine driving the PCOS car, even if your weight is "normal."

A Personalised Approach to PCOS

No two PCOS charts look the same. You might have irregular cycles, regular cycles with no ovulation, or metabolic PCOS.

Because I view this through the lens of Chinese Medicine backed by modern physiology, I don't try to force your body into a rhythm. Instead, I use acupuncture to create the safety and stability your body needs to allow ovulation to happen.

If you are local to Hitchin, Letchworth, Stevenage, or the wider Bedfordshire area, we can work together in-clinic. If you are further afield or want a deep dive into your blood work before we touch a needle, my Fertility Audit is the best place to start.

Who I support with PCOS

I support women who are experiencing:

Irregular or absent periods
PCOS with acne, hair growth, or hair loss
PCOS with insulin resistance
PCOS with regular cycles, but suspected anovulation
PCOS alongside fertility concerns or IVF preparation

PCOS Symptoms

Symptoms of PCOS can include:

Absent or irregular periods
Acne
Increase in body and facial hair, typically called hirsutism
An increase in weight
A greater risk of developing non-insulin depending diabetes
High blood pressure and an increase in the possibility of cardiovascular disease
Whilst not a sign of PCOS, understandably there is also a mental-emotional element to PCOS because of the symptoms that people are displaying. It can be very lonely, depressing, and scary to be told you have PCOS. The fear of possibly not having children, or having to live with an excess of hair, weight gain, and/or acne can be detrimental to some people's mental health.

Diagnosing PCOS

If you suspect you have PCOS then the NICE guidelines for a diagnosis include:

Signs and symptoms mentioned above including (but are not necessarily all)
- hirsutism
- acne
- absent or irregular periods
- weight gain
Blood tests for:
- FSH
- E2
- LH
- Testosterone (will be normal to high with PCOS)
- Androgens (will be normal to high with PCOS)
- SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin, will be normal to low in PCOS)
- Prolactin (will be normal to high with PCOS)
- TSH
- Fasting insulin test
- Ultrasound scan (although please note that the absence of cysts on the ovaries does not preclude a diagnosis of PCOS if all other signs and symptoms demonstrate it)

Menstrual blood test download

What "type" of PCOS do I have?

The criteria introduced by the Rotterdam Consensus in 2003 defined that PCOS should be diagnosed when it matched two out of the three criteria below:

Delayed ovulation or periods
High androgenic hormones e.g testosterone
Polycystic ovaries on an ultrasound

Phenotype A of PCOS

Defined by having all 3 criteria this type of polycystic ovary syndrome is categorised by:

High androgens/androgenic signs
Irregular periods/delayed ovulation
Polycystic ovaries

Phenotype C of PCOS

In this phenotype, which is not considered "classic PCOS" the criteria is:

High androgens/androgenic symptoms
Regular periods
Polycystic ovaries

For this type it is important to to check Day 21 (or Day 7 post ovulation) progesterone levels to determine if true ovulation has taken place.

Phenotype B of PCOS

This phenotype of PCOS is similar to type A however the ovaries will not have cysts.

Therefore criteria will be:

High androgens/androgenic symptoms
Irregular periods/delayed ovulation
No cysts on ovaries

Phenotype D of PCOS

Many experts might not consider this phenotype but this would be characterised by:

Normal androgens
Irregular periods/delayed ovulation
Polycystic ovaries

PCOS Treatment

The NICE guidelines for the management and treatment of PCOS are as follows

Oral contraception for PCOS

NICE guidelines recommend a combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill, provided there are no contraindications

Metformin for PCOS

The NICE guidelines recommend that GPs should consider seeking specialist advice before initiating metformin for women without diabetes.

Metformin (alone or in combination with oral contraceptives) may offer greater benefit in high metabolic risk groups, including those with diabetes risk factors, impaired glucose tolerance, or high-risk ethnic groups.
In addition to lifestyle measures, metformin should be considered in women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25kg/m2 or more for the management of weight and metabolic outcomes.
In addition to lifestyle measures, metformin could be recommended for the treatment of weight, hormonal, and metabolic outcomes.

For prolonged amenorrhea

Prescribe a cyclical progestogen (such as medroxyprogesterone 10 mg daily for 14 days) to induce a withdrawal bleed, then refer for a transvaginal ultrasound to assess endometrial thickness.

For excess androgens

For acne: consider adding a topical retinoid, topical antibiotics, and/or oral antibiotics as appropriate.

For hirsutism: discuss methods of hair reduction and removal (such as shaving and waxing), as these will remain an important part of management. Note that oral contraceptive pills are more effective for acne than for hirsutism.

Acupuncture for Polysystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Why is working with me, The Period Acupuncturist, so beneficial for your PCOS? As your acupuncturist I evaluate your individual signs and symptoms of PCOS and I work with you, not only with my acupuncture needles and acupuncture points but also I am supporting and guiding you with expert knowledge to manage the following areas.

01

Addressing Inflammation

In PCOS our physiological system of inflammation is disrupted leading to chronic low-grade inflammation. I have a blog post here about the role of inflammation in PCOS, endometriosis and perimenopause.

02

Treat insulin resistance

Women with PCOS are more prone to insulin resistance. High insulin levels aggravate your ovaries causing them to produce more androgens.

03

Balancing adrenals

The adrenals respond to stress. They make hormones like cortisol and DHEA (androgen), which are already higher in women with PCOS.

Increased cortisol also causes insulin resistance.

04

Treating excess androgens

As mentioned above, during times of stress our adrenals make cortisol and DHEA (androgens). But there are other androgens such as testosterone, DHEA-S, Androstenedione and Dihydrotestosterone. When these androgens are in excess it can lead to characteristics such as hirsuitism, acne, hair loss and change in body composition.

05

Address hormonal imbalances

The optimal communication between our sex hormones is disrupted with PCOS. The miscommunication comes from overproduction of LH (Luteinising Hormone) which causes the ovary to create more testosterone, which inhibits ovulation.

06

Balance your thyroid

Research suggests that low thyroid function can aggravate the insulin resistance in PCOS. When thyroid dysfunction is combined with PCOS the chances of metabolic, hormonal and cardiovascular risks increase.

Changes in thyroid function can also impact sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). When SHBG is low, androgens can go into excess leading to more androgenic characteristics.

I have written a blog post here about how acupuncture and Chinese medicine treats polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This blog post (it is a 4-minute read) looks at:

What PCOS is in acupuncture and Chinese medicine
The evidence for using acupuncture in supporting your PCOS diagnosis
Free lifestyle advice based on your Chinese medicine diagnosis that you can start incorporating today.

Acupuncture for PCOS (FAQ)

How often do I need acupuncture for PCOS?

Because acupuncture works cumulatively, consistency is key. For PCOS, I typically recommend a course of weekly sessions for at least three menstrual cycles (or three months). This timeframe allows us to influence the maturation of the follicles (eggs), which takes approximately 90 days. My goal in my Hitchin clinic is to get your cycle regulating so we can eventually space treatments out to maintenance sessions.

Does acupuncture for PCOS hurt?

No, it should not be painful. The needles are hair-thin. You might feel a dull ache or a "heavy" sensation (which we call De Qi), which is actually a good sign that the nervous system is responding. My approach is gentle; I want your nervous system to drop into a "rest and digest" state, not brace against pain. If you are nervous, simply tell me—I am a safe pair of hands.

Can I have acupuncture if I am taking Metformin or Clomid?

Yes. Acupuncture is a safe adjunctive therapy alongside conventional medical treatments for PCOS, including Metformin, Letrozole, and Clomid. In fact, many of my clients in Hertfordshire use acupuncture to help manage the side effects of these medications (like nausea or headaches) and to support blood flow to the uterus lining during medicated cycles.

Will acupuncture cure my PCOS?

PCOS is a lifelong metabolic condition, so we don't talk about a "cure," but rather about management and remission. Acupuncture, combined with lifestyle changes, is highly effective at managing symptoms. I aim to reduce androgen levels, regulate ovulation, and calm inflammation so that your PCOS is no longer the loudest voice in the room, allowing you to live symptom-free.