Women’s Health Acupuncture FAQs

What is Women’s Health Acupuncture?

At MAUD, our acupuncturist Madison Downton, specializes in reproductive and pelvic health acupuncture and is a member of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM)

Women’s health acupuncture entails acupuncture for hormonal and pelvic health. We use an integrative and whole systems approach by using a combination of the knowledge of wisdom that comes from thousands of years of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the technology and research of modern day gynecology and reproductive endocrinology.

Acupuncture has a huge capacity for benefitting all people with uteruses or vaginas!

What are some benefits of acupuncture?

 How acupuncture increases IVF success:

• Increases ovarian receptivity to gonadotropins (FSH medications such as Menopur, Puragon and Gonal – F etc) by increasing blood flow and circulation to ovaries

• Benefits egg and embryo quality

• Reduces side effects to the medications such as mood changes, bloating and headaches

• Improves implantation, pregnancy, and live birth rates in IVF patients

• Helps manage stress and reduce anxiety surrounding the embryo transfer

• Acupuncture is recommended to start 90 days before an IVF cycle but you can start anytime and it will still benefit!

How acupuncture can treat headaches and migraines:

• Relieve tension in tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, and jaw

• Correct postural issues that contribute to recurrence of pain

• Regulate hormones and reduce inflammation

• Aid in stress management and benefit the nervous system

How acupuncture can help manage and improve symptoms of PCOS:

• Promotes ovulation

• Benefits egg quality

• Reduces inflammation

• Regulates blood sugars and improves insulin sensitivity

• Has been shown to help reduce circulating androgens thus helping to manage symptoms such as hair loss, acne and hirsutism.

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture works by the strategic insertion of small, thin and, sterile needles into specific parts of the body. Some of the various positive effects include: reducing inflammation, regulating hormones and calming the nervous system. This is done by:

• stimulating blood flow to area surrounding needle, therefore increasing circulation and promoting healing

• modulating the nervous system and encouraging parasympathetic activity, inducing a state of well – being and relaxation

• stimulating the release of endorphins and other endogenous opioids which are our body natural pain killers 

What issues can acupuncture help with?

Acupuncture can improve a wide range of issues or ailments such as:

• poor responders to IVF (diminished ovarian reserve or history of failed cycles)

• unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss or recurrent implantation failure

• unexplained infertility and pre - conception care

• luteal phase defect

• hypothalamic amenorrhea or post - pill amenorrhea

• hyperprolactinemia

• PMS and PMDD

• painful periods and Endometriosis

• PCOS and irregular cycles

• nausea during pregnancy (morning sickness)

• heartburn

• headaches and migraines

• insomnia

• stress and anxiety

• low back/hip/rib/pelvic pain in pregnancy and post - partum

• low milk supply

• pain with intercourse (dyspareunia)

• low libido

Can I get acupuncture if I’m pregnant?

YES. 100% you can and should get acupuncture throughout your pregnancy!

Acupuncture can treat a lot of pregnancy related ailments such as morning sickness, heartburn, low back/hip/rib/pelvic pain, headaches and insomnia. Acupuncture treatment in the last month of pregnancy for birth preparation can also have a positive effect on labour outcomes.

That being said, there are some do's and don'ts of pregnancy acupuncture so just make sure when choosing your acupuncturist, you choose someone who has a specialization in reproductive health and perinatal care. MAUD’s acupuncturist Madison Downton is part of the ABORM Fellowship and specializes in women’s reproductive health, fertility, and pregnancy acupuncture.