Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects up to 15% of women of reproductive age. At our specialist Auckland clinic, we combine acupuncture and lifestyle support to address the root causes – not just the symptoms.
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A study published in Nature magazine in 2008 gave a new perspective on how we see the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Swedish researchers, who conducted the study, discovered that the sympathetic nervous system is hyperactive in PCOS women. And most noteworthy, sympathetic hyperactivity may precede anovulation and may kickstart the vicious PCOS cycle of increased testosterone, insulin resistance, weight gain, anovulation.
By reducing sympathetic hyperactivity and helping your body to regulate sugars, acupuncture can reverse some of the harm done by this complex condition. This includes restoring regular ovulation, decreasing androgen levels, normalising ovarian blood flow and the function of the HPO axis.
When done correctly, acupuncture can restore normal ovulation, decrease ovarian cysts and ovarian size in PCOS patients.
Studies documented Acupuncture to
To fully understand the effect of acupuncture on PCOS we do need more research.
“In women with PCOS, acupuncture therapies were significantly associated with a higher pregnancy rate, ovulation rate, and reduced serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), insulin resistance, and BMI. Moreover, FSH, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin levels were improved in subgroup analyses. For POI, acupuncture significantly improved serum levels of LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, and estradiol.”
Refference: 2024 Systematic Review including 27,106 patients
Both increased androgens and hyperinsulinemia very likely are playing a role in causing PCOS. However, increased sympathetic activity may be preceding these changes.
Dr. Birdsall called our first baby “a miracle”
Every case of PCOS is different, but certain patterns emerge consistently in clinical practice. Women with a lower body mass index tend to respond more quickly. Cycle regulation and ovulation can improve within a relatively short course of treatment. Where PCOS is more strongly tied to higher BMI, progress is more gradual, and treatment needs to reflect that.
One of the earliest signs of improvement we often observe at our clinic in Auckland is in ovulation tracking. Across several cycles, many patients begin noticing clearer ovulation signs: more consistent basal body temperature patterns, more predictable cycle timing, and a general steadying of hormonal rhythms. These shifts tend to build progressively rather than appearing overnight, because the menstrual cycle typically needs a number of cycles to stabilise.
This is why treatment is structured around supporting the body across multiple cycles rather than aiming for rapid change within a single month. Hormonal health unfolds over time, and with the right support, meaningful improvement is achievable for most women with PCOS.