How does acupuncture help improve polycystic ovary syndrome?

Although acupuncture has been used to effectively relieve many symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), its mechanisms of action is poorly understood. Recently studies on PCOS models reported that acupuncture stimulation rebalanced pituitary-ovary axis function and normalized altered expression of genes and proteins related to reproductive and endocrine function.

PCOS is a common condition affecting endocrine and reproductive systems in women, resulting abnormal follicular development and ovulation dysfunction due to imbalance of steroid hormone releasing. Main features of PCOS include irregular periods, high levels of male hormones in the body and polycystic ovaries.  It has been suggested that hormone imbalance, insulin resistance, environmental and genetic factors are associated with the occurrence of PCOS. Many women with PCOS suffer from infertility. Although some medications help many women with PCOS get pregnant, the side effects of medication often cause serious concern.

Professor E Stener-Victorin and colleagues in Sweden conducted a serious study to investigate the mechanisms of acupuncture action on PCOS models. They found that either manual or electro acupuncture (2 Hz) stimulation at ST27, ST28, ST29, SP6 and SP9 acupoints for 45 min, just one session, improved insulin sensitivity, stimulated glucose uptake and the effect maintained nearly one hour after stimulation.

In another study, electroacupuncture stimulation for 15 or 25 min, from Monday to Friday for 5-6 weeks on PCOS models significantly improved pituitary-ovary axis by normalizing luteinizing hormone secretion, increasing ovarian expression of genes and proteins related to endocrine function and reproductive function. The results of acupuncture were as effective as those of the drug control groups.

Those studies showed that acupuncture stimulation could exert multiple modulations on endocrine system and metabolic system on PCOS models. Further clinical studies should be carried out to confirm the experimental data.

Reference

Maliqueo M et al., Circulating gonadotropins and ovarian adiponectin system are modulated by acupuncture independently of sex steroid or β-adrenergic action in a female hyperandrogenic rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2015 Sep 5;412:159-69.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25963796

Benrick A et al., Enhanced insulin sensitivity and acute regulation of metabolic genes and signaling pathways after a single electrical or manual acupuncture session in female insulin-resistant rats. Acta Diabetol. 2014 Dec;51(6):963-72.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25218925