Acupuncture and the Painful Menstrual Cycle
by | Mar 3, 2022
Categories: Acupuncture, Pain, Uterine Health and Fertility
Hormones, Fertility, and Painful Periods
Did you know acupuncture can regulate the menstrual cycle?
Acupuncture can help balance hormones, regulate/improve circulation to internal organs (including the reproductive organs) and help manage stress, which can play a role in the menstrual cycle.
This means that acupuncture can help with:
- Fertility
- Irregular periods (not on a typical 28-day cycle)
- Very heavy periods
- Painful periods
And today I want to talk about that last bullet point, painful periods.
I was that girl in high school (yes, many years ago) who used to be in so much pain during her period that I would
A) Take the day off from classes and extracurriculars
B) Simply lay on the couch with a movie (this was pre-Netflix), a box of chocolate, and a hot water bottle on my abdomen.
For hours. The whole day. Ibuprofen and Midol did not help.
Sound familiar? In the 5 years that I’ve been in practice, I’ve spoken to many women, and it turns out most of us know at least one person who suffers through their period like this. Every month!
Whether the pain is so intense it keeps you home from work, or your period is simply uncomfortable – it doesn’t have to be this way.
I wish I knew then what I know now:
Acupuncture is a safe, effective way to reduce period cramps and other associated symptoms.
When I started my awesome acupuncture program I started to go for weekly acupuncture appointments for my terrible period cramps and they improve so much. I still have a few cramps each month, but I haven’t taken time off school or work due to pain.
There are many research articles that discuss the use of acupuncture for painful periods (called primary dysmenorrhea), and I want to share two with you.
In a 2018 randomized controlled trial, acupuncture was found to help reduce the following menstrual symptoms:
- Pain
- Menstrual cramps
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Fainting
- Mood changes
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
And in a much larger study in 2016, they found that acupuncture was significantly better at reducing period pain and associated symptoms than taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen, calling it “an effective and safe treatment.”
If you or a friend struggle with a painful period or other menstrual symptoms, know that you don’t have to suffer through this every month. Book your acupuncture appointment now and your next period could be pain-free.
When you are ready to start your healing journey with acupuncture you can click the book appointment button in the top right corner or call the clinic at 587-879-7122 to book your first appointment with Dr. Melanie Morrill Ac. Melanie will create a tailored health plan for you to have a happy pain-free uterus.