Acupuncture treatment for irregular menstrual cycle

Abstract

The menstrual cycle is a natural cycle of changes that a woman's body goes through every month. Menstruation usually occurs every 28 to 30 days and lasts from 3 to 7 days. The average cycle length is about 29 days. Irregular periods can happen for many reasons, from everyday stress to certain underlying health conditions. Irregular periods can include cycles that are shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, skipping three or more periods consecutively, or having menstrual bleeding that is noticeably heavier or lighter than normal. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), irregular menstruation is often attributed to insufficient blood generation, which stems from depleted blood and essence that leave the body weakened. Acupuncture as a part of TCM can help to restore a regular period in women who have irregular periods or when the period is absent (amenorrhea). In this research is presented a case of a 37-year-old woman with irregular menstrual cycle, she has had this health problem since she was a girl when she first got her period. She came to the acupuncture center in August 2025, the treatments were done once a week. After 14 treatments, i.e. at the end of October, the patient got her period which lasted 5 days. After the cycle she continued with the treatments also once a week until the next cycle which occurred at the beginning of December. Before starting acupuncture treatments, she used 4 months of hormonal therapy, Cyclo Progynova. Last year, the patient did not miss a period for 12 months. The patient also has polycystic ovarian syndrome. Acupuncture can be highly beneficial for preventing problems and for managing conditions that are more serious or advanced.

Keywords: Menstrual cycle, acupuncture, TCM