Acupuncture for Endometriosis:
March 2023 is Endometriosis Awareness Month.
Did you know that an estimated 1 in 10 women in the UK have endometriosis, with the average time for a diagnosis following the onset of symptoms currently eight years? The prevalence of endometriosis in women with fertility problems is thought to be as high as 30 to 50%. It can have a significant impact on a woman’s day-to-day life—physically, mentally and emotionally.
But what is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition whereby endometrial tissue (tissue similar to the lining of the uterus) grows outside of the uterus—commonly around the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and other areas, such as the bladder and bowel.
Endometriosis frequently presents with the following symptoms:
- pain, which can be severe
- pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse
- bladder problems
- mid-cycle bleeding
- infertility
- re-current miscarriages
- constipation or loose stools
- bloating
- migraines and headaches
- nausea and vomiting
- low energy
- low-grade fever
Can acupuncture help me?
Research shows that acupuncture may be of benefit to people with endometriosis in the following ways:
- providing pain relief—by stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, acupuncture leads to the release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord (Zhao, 2008; Han, 2004; Zijlstra, 2003; Pomeranz, 1987).
- reducing inflammation—by promoting the release of vascular and immuno-modulatory factors (Kavoussi, 2007; Zijlstra, 2003).
- regulating levels of prostaglandins (Jin, 2009)
To learn more about endometriosis, check out the Endometriosis UK website
For the most up-to-date research and evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture, please visit the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) website.
If you would like to learn more about how acupuncture may be able to help you, please contact us today..
REFERENCES:
To read more about high-quality research relating to acupuncture, check out the following links:
- The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC): Acupuncture Research
- Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of pain in endometriosis?
- Japanese-Style Acupuncture for Endometriosis-Related Pelvic Pain in Adolescents and Young Women: Results of a Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial
- Is acupuncture in addition to conventional medicine effective as pain treatment for endometriosis?: A randomised controlled cross-over trial.
