Regulating hormone imbalances naturally with acupuncture

Spring is in full swing and signs of life are everywhere. Sprouts and blooms have broken through the winter landscape. Birds, bees and butterflies are getting back to business. The days are getting longer, and Mother's Day is here. It's a fitting time to reflect on all that gives us life and sustains us.

Spending time outdoors reminds us of the natural cycles of life that are constantly going on all around us—from plants that grow and return to soil to winter snow that feeds the flowing rivers in summertime. The circles of life we see outside aren't unlike those inside our bodies that keep us alive, creating and growing: every action has a reaction, and everything is connected, interdependent.

I think of the endocrine system as the body's architect of our own internal life cycles, using hormones to coordinate and regulate essential processes like metabolism, reproduction, growth, energy, healing, as well as stress and mood. Modern research suggests that one of the ways acupuncture "works" is by influencing key structures of the endocrine system, helping the body better respond to pathological factors and improving how other systems perform.

The HPO axis, a feedback loop that connects the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries, is a classic example of the endocrine system in action. This is a process that regulates sex hormones for fertility. A widely cited 2019 study (H. Zhu et al.) published in the journal, Frontiers in Physiology, concluded that electro-acupuncture normalized functioning of the HPO axis in an animal trial that focused on serum concentration levels of reproductive hormones at different points throughout the menstrual cycle.

GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) is made in the hypothalamus and directs the pituitary gland to release FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone), which in turn signal to the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone. These cascades of hormones should lead to follicle growth, egg maturation, ovulation and a healthy uterine lining—as well as, ideally, a mild-mannered monthly menses. Many factors can make this system go awry, from genetics to inflammation, stress and diet.

A doctoral candidate at Yo San University, Gigi Cristache, DAOM, discussed the negative impacts of stress and anxiety on fertility in her 2015 capstone project. She outlines multiple studies that show how stress and anxiety can affect the HPO axis through disruptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, an endocrine channel that regulates the body's response to stress. For example, increased levels of cortisol—one of our main stress hormones—seem to reduce the pituitary gland's response to GnRH, which in turn affects LH and FSH and can affect ovulation and conception. She concludes that acupuncture's positive effect on stress and anxiety can in turn have a positive effect on reproductive health.

Acupuncture has been shown to support fertility by encouraging a regular menstrual cycle, increasing blood flow to the uterus, and supporting a healthy endometrial lining that can sustain the start of a pregnancy (Cochrane et al., 2014). More high-quality research is needed and the mechanisms of action are not conclusively understood, but these new studies are encouraging and provide a foundation for the fertility and reproductive health work we do at Evergreen Medical Acupuncture.

In addition to targeting hormones, Evergreen Medical Acupuncture will address diet, stress and secondary health concerns that may influence the endocrine system. We will often prescribe herbal medicine and supplements, as appropriate, after examining your blood work and lab results. Acupuncture may also help support male fertility, since the HPO axis also influences testosterone production.

Some research points to better results with Assisted Reproductive Therapy (ART) while receiving acupuncture as well. A 2009 study (Magarelli, et al.) showed potential benefits from acupuncture during embryo transfer by reducing stress, which helped restore balance to cortisol and prolactin. A growing body of evidence suggests that acupuncture could increase IVF success rates by helping regulate the HPO axis as well as beta-endorphins, which are opioid neuropeptides that reduce pain and anxiety, among other functions (Chang, et al., 2002; NG, et al., 2008). A 2010 study calculated that 64.7 percent of women receiving acupuncture during IVF cycles achieved a pregnancy compared to 42.5 percent of the control group (Balk et al.).

These findings—as well as other studies that can be found in the National Institute for Health's public archives—point to medical acupuncture as an effective therapy for treating pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, adenomyosis, and other menstrual disorders, as well as unpleasant symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. There's also a growing body of evidence supporting acupuncture's ability to positively affect mental health in conjunction with traditional therapies and on its own.

Whether you want to be a mother or otherwise want to feel your best, acupuncture is a great, non-invasive, natural option for improving hormone dysregulation that might be impacting many facets of your life.