Acupuncture for PCOS: What the Research Shows

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can affect periods, skin, hair, weight, mood and fertility, and many people look for extra support beyond medicines. This guide is for adults with diagnosed PCOS who are curious about acupuncture and want an honest account of what the research shows, what NICE says and where it might fit alongside medical care.

When to see someone: PCOS should be diagnosed and monitored by your GP or specialist. If you would like acupuncture at Omnia as supportive care alongside that, a 60-minute session with assessment is £80. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.

Quick answer

There is no reliable evidence that acupuncture treats PCOS. Research on periods, hormones and fertility in PCOS is limited and of low quality, and a large trial found acupuncture did not increase live births compared with sham acupuncture. NICE advises that complementary therapies for fertility problems have not been properly evaluated. Lifestyle changes, weight management where relevant, and medicines from your GP remain first-line. Some people use acupuncture for stress and wellbeing alongside that care, and that is a reasonable personal choice.

A note on the name: PCOS and PMOS

The NHS now uses the name polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and explains that it used to be called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Most people still search for PCOS, so we use that name here. The NHS lists symptoms including irregular periods or long gaps between periods, excess hair growth or hair loss, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, difficulty getting pregnant, oily skin and acne, tiredness, and low mood or anxiety.

Does acupuncture help PCOS? What the evidence shows

Studies have looked at acupuncture for ovulation, menstrual regularity, hormone levels and pregnancy in PCOS. Research reviews describe this evidence as low quality, with small trials, mixed results and a high risk of bias, so it is not possible to say acupuncture improves any of these outcomes. A large, well-designed trial in women with PCOS found that acupuncture did not increase live births compared with sham acupuncture.

We think it is important to say this clearly. Online, acupuncture for PCOS is often presented with confident claims about regulating cycles or balancing hormones, and those claims go beyond what the research shows. Our article on acupuncture and fertility covers the wider evidence in more detail.

What NICE and the NHS recommend for PCOS

• Lifestyle first. NICE clinical knowledge summaries describe healthy eating, regular physical activity and weight loss as first-line treatment for people with PCOS who are living with overweight. Losing as little as 5% of body weight has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and testosterone levels.
• Medicines. The NHS lists options such as the combined pill, progestogen-only pill or an IUS for irregular periods, clomifene to help fertility, spironolactone or eflornithine for unwanted hair, metformin, weight loss medicines and acne treatments.
• Protecting the womb lining. NICE summaries note that going more than three months between periods may raise the risk of thickening of the womb lining, so a GP may suggest treatment to bring on a bleed at least every 3 to 4 months.
• Long-term health checks. The NHS advises regular check-ups, because PCOS can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
• Fertility (NICE NG257). NICE advises telling people concerned about their fertility that the effectiveness of complementary therapies for fertility problems has not been properly evaluated, and that more research is needed before they can be recommended.

Acupuncture for PCOS, stress and wellbeing

Living with PCOS can be stressful, and the NHS lists depression and anxiety among its symptoms. Some people find regular acupuncture sessions a calm hour to rest, and say they feel less tense and sleep better. That kind of support has value, but it is different from treating PCOS. If you choose acupuncture for this reason, keep your medical care and lifestyle plan at the centre. If your mood is low, please also talk to your GP.

Acupuncture for PCOS weight loss

Weight is a common concern with PCOS, and many people ask whether acupuncture can help with PCOS weight loss. There is no good evidence that acupuncture causes meaningful weight loss. Changes to eating and activity, sleep, and medicines from your GP where appropriate are the approaches with support. See how to lose weight with PCOS, how to reverse insulin resistance and our answer to does acupuncture help with weight loss.

What happens if you choose acupuncture

1. Assessment. Your practitioner asks about your diagnosis, cycle, symptoms, medicines, sleep and stress, and whether you are trying to conceive or having fertility treatment.
2. Needling. Fine, sterile, single-use needles are placed and left for around 20 to 30 minutes while you rest. Points on the lower abdomen, lower legs and hands are often used, but no particular PCOS acupuncture protocol or set of points has been shown to work better than another.
3. Review. At Omnia we review at the third visit, focusing on whether sessions are helping you feel calmer and cope better.

If you are having fertility treatment, tell your clinic you are having acupuncture.

How many sessions, and what does it cost?

There is no evidence-based course of acupuncture for PCOS, so be wary of anyone asking you to commit to a long package or promising cycle changes. If you choose to try it, a few weekly sessions with a review at the third visit is a sensible approach. At Omnia Lifestyle in Chiswick a 60-minute session is £80, with the assessment included. Our acupuncturists are registered with the British Acupuncture Council or the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Who should take extra care

• If you could be pregnant or are trying to conceive, tell your practitioner, as some points are avoided in pregnancy.
• If you take blood-thinning medicine or bleed easily, as the NHS notes acupuncture may not be safe for you.
• If you have a skin infection or skin condition where needles would go.
• If you are taking medicines for PCOS, keep taking them as prescribed. Acupuncture should never replace or delay medical treatment.

When to see a doctor

See your GP if:

• You think you might have PCOS, or your symptoms are affecting your everyday life, work or relationships
• You go more than three months without a period, or have unusual vaginal bleeding
• You feel very thirsty, pee more than usual, feel very tired or lose weight without trying, which can be signs of type 2 diabetes
• You are finding it hard to get pregnant
• You feel low or anxious most of the time

If you feel unable to keep yourself safe, call 999 or Samaritans on 116 123, day or night.

Frequently asked questions

Can acupuncture regulate periods with PCOS?

Some small studies have reported changes in cycle regularity, but research reviews rate this evidence as low quality, so it is not possible to say acupuncture regulates periods in PCOS. The approaches with support are lifestyle changes, weight loss where relevant and hormonal treatments from your GP, which can also protect the womb lining if periods are infrequent.

Does acupuncture help you get pregnant with PCOS?

A large trial in women with PCOS found that acupuncture did not increase live births compared with sham acupuncture, and NICE says complementary therapies for fertility problems have not been properly evaluated. Medical treatments such as clomifene are the options with evidence. Read can you get pregnant with PCOS for your next steps.

What is a PCOS acupuncture protocol?

Some clinics advertise a set PCOS acupuncture protocol, usually a fixed series of weekly sessions using points on the abdomen, legs and hands. There is no protocol with good evidence behind it. If you choose acupuncture, a short trial with a clear review point is more honest than a long upfront package or a promise of results.

Can I have acupuncture while taking metformin or the pill?

Acupuncture does not usually interact with medicines such as metformin or the combined pill, but always tell your practitioner everything you take. Keep taking your medicines as prescribed, and speak to your GP before changing any treatment. Acupuncture should sit alongside your medical care, not replace it.

Acupuncture for PCOS in Chiswick

Our clinic is at 8 to 9 Bedford Corner, The Avenue, Chiswick W4 1LZ, close to Turnham Green station, on bus routes 94, E3 and 272. Limited parking is available on request when booking. We will be clear about what acupuncture can and cannot offer, and we work alongside your GP and specialist rather than in place of them.

Read more about PCOS, see irregular periods and what is a normal cycle, or explore acupuncture at Omnia.

Book acupuncture in Chiswick: 60-minute sessions £80. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have any of the warning signs above, seek medical attention.