Acupuncture for Endometriosis

Overview
Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice that has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of illnesses. Some women with endometriosis have utilized acupuncture to relieve pain and other symptoms.

Acupuncture is not a cure for endometriosis.

What does it involve?
During an acupuncture treatment, you will lie still on a table. A trained acupuncturist or TCM practitioner will insert a number of fine needles into the skin or connective tissue just beneath the skin. The needles are left in the skin for up to 30 minutes. Different regions of the skin are targeted during acupuncture depending on the condition being treated. The practitioner may gently twist or move the needles. Heat or electricity may be applied to the needles. Acupuncture is usually painless.

In TCM, acupuncture is believed to work by balancing and correcting the flow of energy, or qi (pronounced “chee”), throughout the body. Some Western researchers have proposed that acupuncture works by stimulating nerves and increasing blood flow.

Intended Outcomes
The goal of acupuncture as a treatment for endometriosis is to reduce pain and help you feel your best.

Results
The results of studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture for endometriosis are mixed and inconclusive. One study of 67 women with endometriosis found that real acupuncture improved pain in mild to moderate endometriosis, but did not significantly improve pain in severe endometriosis.

More research is needed to determine the potential benefits of acupuncture for people with endometriosis.

Constraints
Some insurers will cover acupuncture, but others may not. Out-of-pocket costs for acupuncture may be expensive.

Depending on where you live, it may be difficult to find or travel to an acupuncture provider.