How Acupuncture Supports Women’s Health — From Menstrual Relief to Menopause

At Clarity Wellness Center, we care for women through every life stage — from menstruation and fertility to pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Acupuncture offers a gentle, natural way to ease discomfort, balance hormones, and support your overall well-being.

Our approach is holistic and deeply personalized. In Chinese medicine, true healing means more than symptom relief — it’s about restoring balance and helping you feel your best in body, mind, and spirit.

1. Menstrual Health: Cramps, PMS, and Irregular Cycles

Many women struggle with painful periods, heavy bleeding, or mood swings each month. In Chinese medicine, these symptoms often point to imbalances in the body — often involving the Liver, Spleen, or Kidney systems.

What research shows:Studies have found that acupuncture may relieve menstrual pain as effectively — and sometimes more effectively — than common pain medications like NSAIDs (Cho et al., 2018). It can also help regulate menstrual cycles and ease PMS symptoms, without the side effects associated with medication.

How it helps:Acupuncture improves blood flow to the uterus, reduces inflammation, regulates hormones, and calms the nervous system — helping your body return to balance naturally. 

What to expect:Many women benefit from weekly treatments before and during their menstrual cycle for one to three months.

2. Fertility & IVF Support

Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or going through IVF, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can provide meaning support on this journey.

What research shows:Recent studies suggest acupuncture may improve pregnancy and live birth rates, especially when started several weeks before IVF (Shen et al., 2022). It can also help reduce stress and support hormonal regulation — both important for reproductive health. 

How it helps:In Chinese medicine, fertility is closely linked to the strength of the Kidney system. Acupuncture nourishes this foundation, supports healthy ovulation and menstrual cycles, and helps calm the mind during what can be an emotional time.

When to start:We recommend beginning treatment one to three months before IVF and continuing through embryo transfer for optimal support.

3. Pregnancy & Postpartum Support

Acupuncture is a safe, drug-free option for many of the common pregnancy symptoms like nausea, back or pelvic pain, insomnia, fatigue, and anxiety.

What research shows:A 2023 review found acupuncture both effective and generally safe for pregnancy-related discomforts when performed by a trained professional (Zhou et al., 2023).

Postpartum:After giving birth, your body and emotions go through tremendous changes. Acupuncture can help you recover more smoothly by supporting energy, mood, sleep, lactation, and overall balance during the postpartum period.

4. Menopause Support

The transition to menopause often brings symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, and joint pain. In Chinese medicine, these changes are often associated with Kidney Yin Deficiency, a type of hormonal imbalance.

What research shows:Studies indicates that acupuncture may reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flashes, improve sleep, and enhance overall well-being (Chiu et al., 2015).

How it helps:By promoting hormonal balance, calming the nervous system, and improving circulation, acupuncture helps ease the body’s transition through menopause.

What to expect:Most women start with weekly treatments for 6–8 weeks, then adjust frequency based on ongoing needs and results.