Women’s Health

With today’s environmental factors including more women than ever in the workforce, starting families, raising children and pursuing advanced studies and degrees, the stress and pressure can affect even the most health conscious of women.  Integrative medicine including acupuncture has shown to be an effective way to address health concerns specific to women: premenstrual, post menopausal, gynecological health, fertility, pregnancy and emotional well being.

There are many studies being conducted regarding the effects of acupuncture and women’s health.  For example, a recent German study published in the February 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology confirms that acupuncture can significantly relieve menstrual pain. The majority of patients receiving acupuncture in the study reported at least a 33 percent improvement in their pain level compared to the control group who received no treatment.

According to a study published in the journal, Fertility and Sterility, acupuncture reduces nighttime hot flashes caused by menopause.  Researchers found seven weeks of acupuncture treatment reduced the severity of nighttime hot flashes by 28 percent among menopausal women compared with a 6 percent decrease among the control group.

Recently documented in a February 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal, women undergoing IVF were 65 percent more likely to become pregnant when they combined the procedure with acupuncture.  The considerable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women and was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland and the VU University Amsterdam located in Holland.

Sources: Source: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 198, Issue 2, Pages 166.e1-166.e8 (February 2008); Huang, M. Fertility and Sterility, September 2006; Vol. 86: pp. 700-710; News release, American Society of Reproductive Medicine; British Medical Journal (February 2008)

To learn about the latest research on acupuncture and women’s health, Click Here.

To learn about the latest research on acupuncture and infertility, Click Here.