What is considered an irregular cycle?
A menstrual cycle is considered irregular if it is not consistent with previous
periods. This means the length, frequency, intensity and heaviness of flow may all
fluctuate. A normal menstrual cycle is anywhere from 21 to 35 days long; anything
outside of this window is considered irregular. Up to 25% of women in the United
States experience irregular menstrual cycles.
Factors that can contribute to an irregular menstrual cycle:
Stress
Excessive exercise
Endometriosis
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Gaining or losing weight
Medications
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Hormone Imbalance
How does acupuncture work?
According to the Acupuncture Now Foundation, “the qi flow corresponds to nerve
transmission, connective tissue planes, metabolic components carried in blood
such as oxygen, hormones, neurotransmitters and nutrients as well as the
functional energy of an organ system, depending on the context in which it is
used.”
How can acupuncture help regulate menstrual cycles?
As we learned from the Acupuncture Now Foundation, acupuncture affects
hormones, and can stimulate a certain organ or organ system. This means by
focusing on the female reproductive system, with consistent treatments and time,
a more regular cycle will be achieved. Acupuncture can help increase blood flow,
which allows nutrients to reach the reproductive organs.
When the female reproductive system is getting the nutrients it needs, it
allows the uterus and ovaries to do their jobs more consistently, resulting in a
regular menstrual cycle. With enough nutrients in the uterus, a thick uterine lining
is built. This lining is then ready for the implantation of an embryo, or a period
occurs and the lining is shed. With enough nutrients in the ovaries, the eggs are
healthier and the luteinizing hormone (LH) is affected, which causes the release of
an egg.
It is important to understand that time and consistency are key to reaching
health and wellness goals when it comes to acupuncture. This is because the
energies in our bodies are being stimulated and redirected, which doesn’t happen
overnight. Through regular acupuncture treatments, blood flow is increased
which allows nutrients to reach the reproductive system; resulting in a more
regular menstrual cycle.
Sources:
“About Acupuncture.” Acupuncture Now Foundation Inc., www.acunow.org/about-acupuncture.html. Accessed 10 Aug. 2023.
Azoulay, Mandi. “Can Acupuncture Help Regulate My Menstrual Cycle? – Road to Wellness: Los Gatos Acupuncture.” Road To Wellness | Los Gatos Acupuncture, 21 May 2021, www.road-to-wellness.com/blog/can-acupuncture-help-regulate-menstrual-cycles.
Cleveland Clinic. “Irregular Periods (Abnormal Menstruation): Causes & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14633-abnormal-menstruation- periods. Accessed 10 Aug. 2023.
“What Are Menstrual Irregularities?” Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menstruation/conditioninfo/irregularities# :~:text=For%20most%20women%2C%20a%20normal,from%2021%20to%2035%20d ays.&text=However%2C%2014%25%20to%2025%25,other%20problems%2C%20like %20abdominal%20cramps. Accessed 10 Aug. 2023.
