Many women struggle with intense cramping, headaches, clotting or mood swings associated with their menstrual cycle. Acupuncture can help to regulate your cycle and lessen pain by normalizing blood flow and regulating cortisol levels. 

 Cycle regulation is important not only when trying to conceive, but also as a glimpse into a woman’s health in general.  In Chinese medicine, part of our holistic diagnosis for a person can be gauged through symptoms of a their cycle, from the teen years up until menopause.

Acupuncture regulates the menstrual cycle in 3 main ways:

1. Acupuncture helps to regulate the feedback loop between the brain and the ovaries, also known as the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) axis. If the HPO axis is communicating effectively, this helps to balance hormones which in turn benefits the menstrual cycle, promotes ovulation, and the period will follow.

2. Acupuncture improves blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. High levels of stress can decrease the flow of nutrient dense blood to the reproductive organs. Acupuncture calms the nervous system and dilates blood vessels thereby increasing the flow of blood to the ovaries and lining of the uterus (endometrium). Well-nourished ovaries function more efficiently and good blood flow to the uterus ensures the endometrial lining is able to grow to an appropriate thickness to allow for menses or implantation of an embryo. Once again, the ability of the endometrium to grow a fertile lining is important, even if one is not currently trying to conceive.

3. Acupuncture promotes ovulation by increasing blood flow to the ovaries to support the maturation of a healthy egg. Acupuncture may help promote the LH (Lutenising Hormone) surge which triggers the egg to be released from the dominant follicle on the ovary.