Acupuncture for PCOS

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, is a very common endocrine disorder affecting as many as ten percent of people who menstruate and is one of the most common causes of infertility. 

Common symptoms of PCOS include: 

  • anovulation 

  • missed periods (often for months at a time)

  • heavy bleeding

  • recurrent miscarriage

  • blood sugar regulation issues

  • acne 

  • abnormal facial and body hair growth

  • weight gain/difficulty losing weight

  • thyroid issues

  • depression/anxiety

Left untreated, PCOS can lead to long-term health risks like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, increased stroke risk. So even if you are not trying to get pregnant it is still important to address the underlying hormone imbalance and hormone signaling issues that resulted in PCOS.  

The good news is that acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary adjustments and supplements can help bring you back into balance. 

FAQs

  • If you have recently been diagnosed with PCOS and started googling you might be overwhelmed by a lot of confusing information because PCOS is a complex ovulatory and metabolic disorder that can present differently across people with ovaries and with a wide range of severity of symptoms. There is such variability in how PCOS presents that researchers created diagnostic criteria and four PCOS phenotypes.

    To be diagnosed with PCOS you have to meet 2 out of 3 criteria.

    1. Delayed ovulation or menstrual cycles. Basically if you have fewer than 10 cycles a year or have cycles that are 35 days or longer.

    2. Hyperandrogenism/high androgenic hormones. This basically means that you have elevated hormones like testosterone that can cause things like growth of facial and body hair and acne particularly along the jaw line and on the back.

    3. Polycystic ovaries as seen on an ultrasound. This would look like 12 or more follicles running from 2-9 mm on a single ovary.

  • Acupuncture can help regulate hormones like the LH/FSH ratio and testosterone, improve menstrual regularity, support ovulation, reduce stress, and improve insulin sensitivity, all of which can be factors in PCOS. I also work with all of my patients who have PCOS on optimal diet and lifestyle approaches that support hormone and metabolic balance that are unique to your PCOS presentation.

  • Yes! I treat this a lot in my practice. By regulating hormones we support ovulation and menstrual regularity, two important aspects in getting and staying pregnant. I work with all my patients who have PCOS on diet and lifestyle approaches that support optimal fertility within the context of your unique PCOS presentation. Research has shown that acupuncture improves blood flow to the ovaries and uterus in people with PCOS – this improved blood flow supports healthy follicular development and ovulation as well as uterine receptivity.

  • Absolutely. In fact, a new 2025 scientific review shows that adding acupuncture to letrozole (a medication used to induce ovulation) significantly improves pregnancy rates in people with PCOS. There has been decades of research supporting the use of acupuncture to improve IVF outcomes.

  • By supporting hormonal balance and reducing inflammation, acupuncture can help improve symptoms such as acne, excess hair growth over time.

  • Acupuncture, along with diet and lifestyle changes, supports healthy metabolic function, reduces carb and sweet cravings, and improves digestion. I work with all of my patients who have PCOS on optimal diet and lifestyle approaches that support hormone and metabolic health.

  • PCOS is a chronic condition and will need consistent care. I typically see people weekly for several months but frequency and length of treatment depends upon what your goals are and how impacted your hormone and metabolic functioning are.

 Find Your Balance. Naturally.

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“I highly recommend Karen. Within 3 months of meeting her, we achieved our goal of getting pregnant. After a year of TTC, my partner and I went through fertility testing to find out I have PCOS. The next steps were: Metformin and multiple rounds of IUI. I was feeling totally unseen and discouraged in the plan. Enter Karen! She provided a holistic approach PCOS and helped me to understand what was happening in my body. She suggested diet changes and natural supplements to improve my overall health (and fertility). Each week we'd start with a conversation to understand how external elements played into my PCOS and then we'd do an acupuncture session. I learned so much during my time with Karen.”

— Annastacia J., Arvada, CO