We believe you can never have too much information when it comes to knowing how your body functions. During our years working with women who are trying to conceive (and in my own personal experience) it has become apparent that we are not well educated about our menstrual cycle. There is a lack of understanding on the phases of the cycle, hormones, ovulation and what a “normal” period looks like. At Seven Points Wellness we provide age appropriate education on the menstrual cycle, what is happening with hormones at the various phases of the cycle and what signs and symptoms you might expect during these phases. This is discussed in relation to your own experiences with your cycle. Some common menstrual conditions that might be identified during our discussion that we can help support include:

— Irregular cycles including absence of cycles (amenorrhea)
— Heavy flow (menorrhagia)
— Period pain (dysmenorrhea)
— Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Like statistics and want to read more about how acupuncture can help support your menstrual cycle?

Here are some studies you can read.

PMOS is a hormonal condition in women of reproductive age where there may be too little hormones in the body for ovulation to occur leading to an excess of follicles in the ovaries which fail to release an egg. This results in increased androgens in the body. The cause is unknown though your likelihood of having PMOS is increased if there is a family history. Some of the symptoms of PMOS include, irregular periods or no periods, excess hair growth on the face and/or body, acne and skin tags, anxiety, weight gain around the belly, male pattern alopecia and reduced fertility.

From a Western medicine (WM) point of view women with PMOS are advised to take the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) to control the length of the cycle, lower androgens and reduce acne. Taking the OCP to manage PMOS will simply mask the symptoms and when you decide you no longer want to take it or you want to try to start a family your PMOS will still be present. From a WM point of view infertility due ovulation issues from PMOS can be treated with more medication and you may find yourself on a track to IUI or IVF.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help to regulate your cycle and address the symptoms of PMOS, there are supplements that also assist with this. The TCM treatment process is not a quick fix and will require regular acupuncture for at least 3 menstrual cycles to balance your body.

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to those that line the uterus are found in other parts of the body including the pelvis, reproductive organs, the bowel and bladder, skin, joints and even the brain. There is no clear cause for it. Endometriosis may cause you to experience severe period pain with cramps in the stomach, lower back and legs, this pain is likely to impact on your daily life and productivity. You may experience heavy bleeding, soaking a pad or tampon within 2 hours for consecutive hours, intercourse may be painful, you may have bowel issues and pain on defecation or urination and you may experience extreme fatigue. It can impact fertility. Endometriosis is also often associated with immune or autoimmune disorders.

The diagnosis of endometriosis is often a slow process, this is because the signs and symptoms of it vary from woman to woman and these signs and symptoms can be associated with other conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome or even appendicitis. Acupuncture can help address the signs and symptoms of endometriosis (with or without a formal diagnosis). Diet is important, cutting out caffeine and eating more cruciferous vegetables can have a positive impact on endometriosis.

Menopause occurs when oestrogen levels decrease stopping the monthly period, it is defined as 12 consecutive months without a period. Menopause is one day, the day that it has been 12 months since your last period. Post Menopause is the period after Menopause. Perimenopause precedes menopause and it can last anywhere from 5-10 years. During perimenopause our hormones shift, oestrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate and we ovulate less regularly. Oestrogen can rise up to 3 times its normal level before it finally declines. As a result periods can become irregular, bleeding can become heavier, you may experience hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, stress, overwhelm and depression, poor sleep, fatigue, decreased memory, brain fog, joint pain (hello frozen shoulder) and sexual dysfunction.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can provide support to help you to manage your individual perimenopausal and post menopausal signs and symptoms. TCM can be used in conjunction with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)/ Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) if you are on that pathway.

Want to read some evidence on how acupuncture can help with the management of perimenopause and menopause? You can here.

If you are one of the many women who are finding it difficult to conceive due to a diagnosed medical condition or due to unknown reasons you may benefit from a combination of education around ovulation and egg quality, supplements, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and lifestyle changes to support your menstrual cycle, body and mind.

We can support natural conception or assisted conception such as IUI, IVF, donor egg or donor sperm. We are LGBTQI friendly. For the best outcomes from acupuncture for fertility we recommend you have weekly treatment for at least 3 full menstrual cycles. Acupuncture is cumulative so each session builds on the last. You can start acupuncture at any stage of the your cycle.

During the nine months of your pregnancy it is likely you will experience one or more unpleasant symptoms. These may include, exhaustion, nausea and vomiting during the first trimester and lower back and pelvic pain in the second trimester. The third trimester may bring heartburn and anxiety or stress around the impending birth. In the third trimester you may also find that your baby is in a breech position.

Acupuncture is a safe and natural way to address these symptoms during any stage of pregnancy. There are some acupuncture points that are contraindicated during pregnancy but as AHPRA registered acupuncturists we are aware of these points and when it is unsafe to use them.

Read about the use of acupuncture on moxibustion for breech presentation here.

As you near the end of your pregnancy you may want to prepare your body for labour. With your pregnancy care provider’s consent, acupuncture can be used to assist this from 36 weeks until term. Initially, weekly acupuncture will be used to strengthen your body, as you are closer to full term, twice weekly induction acupuncture points can be used to ripen the cervix. We can also show you (and your partner/ support person) how to use acupressure in the lead up to and during labour.

Following birth you require rest and time to bond with your baby. We can provide support to to strengthen your body, rebuild your qi, support your breast feeding journey and aid with c-section scar management.

Our emotional wellbeing plays an important role in our overall health. At various times in a womans life we experience hormonal changes, transitions to our lifestyle and daily stressors which can lead to anxiety, depression, stress and mood fluctuations. We may experience frustration, worry and overthinking, fear, anger or grief. 

In TCM theory we take a holistic approach to care and view mental wellbeing and physical wellbeing as being interconnected. TCM in the form of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, diet and lifestyle changes can help to regulate our nervous system, calm the mind and promote flow of Qi to nourish the body and calm our spirit (Shen).

Read about the impact TCM has on anxiety here.

Musculoskeletal conditions such as neck and back pain, pelvic and hip pain, shoulder or knee pain, wrist or ankle joint stiffness, muscle tightness and strain can occur at any stage of a womans life for any number of reasons. These conditions can make it difficult to attend to our daily activities at home and work.

TCM through the use of acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion and massage can assist to reduce inflammation, increase blood circulation, ensure qi is moving freely throughout the body and decrease muscle tension.