Understanding Endometriosis and How Acupuncture May Offer Relief

Endometriosis affects millions of people worldwide, but it’s a condition that often goes undiagnosed or misunderstood for several years. If you’ve ever wondered what endometriosis is, why it’s so challenging, and whether alternative therapies like acupuncture could truly make a difference, you’re not alone. Today, we’ll delve into the science, tradition, and personal impact of this complex condition and explore how approaches old and new are converging to offer hope.

What Is Endometriosis?

Imagine tissue like the lining of the uterus, called endometrium, growing where it doesn’t belong: outside the uterus, clinging to organs like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or even the bowel and bladder. Each month, this tissue behaves much like it does inside the uterus, building up and breaking down. The catch? There’s nowhere for the blood to go, which leads to inflammation, pain, and sometimes the formation of scar tissue or cysts.

Endometriosis causes a wide range of symptoms. For some, it means intense menstrual cramps, pain during sex (dyspareunia), painful periods (dysmenorrhea), discomfort when going to the bathroom, fatigue, heavy periods, and sometimes, difficulties with fertility. The pain and unpredictability can deeply affect work, digestive issues, relationships, and overall quality of life. Aside from physical symptoms, endometriosis takes a significant toll on mental health. Research shows women often report higher rates of depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. Endometriosis can impact careers, relationships, and overall well-being, with studies showing up to a 19% reduction in quality of life compared to those in optimal health. The diagnosis of endometriosis can take seven to ten years on average.

Why Does Endometriosis Happen?

This is the million-dollar question. The exact cause remains a mystery, but scientists believe it’s a mix of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Theories range from “retrograde menstruation,” where menstrual blood flows backwards through the fallopian tubes, to immune system issues that fail to clear misplaced tissue, and even family history.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a different lens: it sees endometriosis as a problem of “blood stagnation” and “qi stagnation” (energy blockages), often compounded by “kidney yang deficiency.” In TCM, the goal is to get energy and blood moving freely again, reducing pain and helping the body find its natural balance.

How Common Is Endometriosis?

You may be surprised to learn that about 1 in 10 women—and people assigned female at birth—are affected by endometriosis. That’s millions worldwide. Prevalence is even higher (up to 50%) among those experiencing infertility. Despite these numbers, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis remains common. The impact can be profound, slashing quality of life by nearly 20% compared to healthy peers and increasing the risk for other health conditions, including certain cancers and autoimmune disorders.

Current Treatments: The Ups and Downs

Treatment for endometriosis is highly individual. Typical first-line therapies include:

• Pain relief: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen are often used, but they may only offer partial relief.
• Hormonal therapies: Medications such as birth control or GnRH analogues, to slow or halt the growth of endometrial tissue, can help, especially for those not trying to conceive. Yet, these can come with side effects like mood swings, weight gain, or bleeding, and up to half of patients discontinue them.
• Surgery: In more stubborn cases, minimally invasive procedures can remove endometrial tissue, but about 25% of people need repeat surgeries as symptoms often recur.

With these limitations, it’s no wonder many seek out alternative or complementary therapies. One of the most popular? Acupuncture.

Acupuncture and Endometriosis: What Does the Science Say?

 How It Works (Biomedically)

Acupuncture is more than just ancient wisdom. Studies show it may offer real benefits for those struggling with endometriosis-related pain and poor quality of life.

Acupuncture can reduce key symptoms like pelvic pain, period pain, pain during sex, and overall discomfort—sometimes outperforming standard medications, especially in head-to-head studies.

• Improvements are often seen in blood markers linked to endometriosis (like CA-125), and even in the size of ovarian cysts.
• Quality of life scores increase, meaning people feel better not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.
• Different styles of acupuncture, including electroacupuncture and auricular (ear) acupuncture, may offer targeted benefits. In some studies, “combination therapy”—using acupuncture with other modalities—delivered the best results.

But how does it work? Acupuncture seems to influence both the immune system and the body’s pain pathways. It can reduce inflammation, help regulate hormone levels, and increase the release of “feel-good” neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. This can boost mood, ease pain, reduce the size of the endometrial growths outside the uterus and help with digestive symptoms.

Acupuncture impacts several mechanisms involved in endometriosis:

• Reduces inflammation (by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, TNF)
• Lowers oestrogen production (disrupting the feedback loop that drives lesion growth)
• Stimulates dopamine and serotonin, improving mood and pain tolerance
• Reduces prostaglandins, lessening cramping and uterine spasms
• Modulates the nervous system, reducing sensitivity and chronic pain perception

It may even slow lesion growth, enhance ovarian function, and improve immune system balance.

What Does the Research Say?

The clinical evidence supporting acupuncture’s effectiveness is growing rapidly.

Pain Reduction

• Xu et al. (2017): In 10 studies involving 589 participants, acupuncture showed significantly greater pain relief and lower CA-125 levels than Western medicine.
• Chen et al. (2024): Found electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture most effective in reducing pelvic pain and endometriosis lesion size.

Quality of Life Improvements

• Wang et al. (2023): A systematic review of 15 RCTs concluded that acupuncture significantly improved both painand health-related quality of life.
• Afreen et al. (2024): Compared surgery, acupuncture, and exercise. While surgery offered strong pain relief, acupuncture was associated with increased emotional well-being and functional improvement.

Compared to Western Medicine

• Li et al. (2024): Acupuncture outperformed Western medicine in reducing pain and CA-125 levels.
• Su et al. (2025): Found auricular therapy and electroacupuncture to have higher clinical efficacy than conventional treatments.

What to Expect from Acupuncture

A typical acupuncture session for endometriosis might focus on points along the Ren Meridian or Spleen Meridian. Treatment often starts the week before a period (menses) and may include additional techniques like warming moxibustion or ear seeds.

Common Acupoints Used

Frequently used acupuncture points in treating endometriosis include:

• Ren-3, Ren-4, Ren-6 (Ren Meridian)
• SP-6 (Spleen Meridian)

Side effects are minimal, and when compared to many medications, acupuncture is generally well-tolerated. Still, it’s best to work with a qualified practitioner who understands endometriosis.

How Does Acupuncture Compare to Standard Care?

Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses—studies that pool data from many clinical trials consistently find that acupuncture can match or even exceed the effectiveness of conventional treatments for pain relief. It’s not a cure-all, but it can be a powerful part of a comprehensive care plan, especially for those seeking a more holistic, side-effect-sparing approach.

While Western medicine plays a crucial role in treating endometriosis, acupuncture offers a holistic, evidence-backed, side-effect-light alternative—particularly for those seeking relief from chronic pain, stress, or hormonal side effects.

Whether used alone or in conjunction with traditional therapies, acupuncture presents a promising complementary approach to managing this challenging condition.

In Summary

Endometriosis is a challenging, complex condition, but new research and holistic approaches like acupuncture are expanding the options for pain relief and restoring quality of life. If you or someone you care about is affected, know that you’re not alone and that hope and healing can come from many directions.

If you’re considering acupuncture, talk with your healthcare provider and find a qualified practitioner. With the right blend of science and tradition, relief may be closer than you think.

Have You Tried Acupuncture for Endometriosis?

If you’ve had experience with acupuncture for endometriosis—positive or negative—we’d love to hear your story. Sharing experiences can help others navigate their own journey.

 Are you a healthcare professional seeking to incorporate women’s health acupuncture into your practice?

Qualified individuals such as nurses, midwives, sports therapists, physiotherapists, and complementary therapists, considering the integration of women’s health acupuncture into their skill set, are encouraged to contact us at info@stevebaileyacupuncture.com. We offer a variety of courses, including a postgraduate diploma or diploma in medical acupuncture for those pursuing practitioner-level training, as well as a foundation in medical acupuncture designed for healthcare professionals interested in adding acupuncture to their clinical services. Our acupuncture for women’s health module is included within both the postgraduate and diploma curricula, but it can also be taken independently by those who have already completed basic training in medical acupuncture.

References

1. Afreen, S., Perthiani, A., Sangster, E., Lanka, N., Acharya, P., Virani, S. and Iana Malasevskaia (2024). Comparing Surgical, Acupuncture, and Exercise Interventions for Improving the Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis: A Systematic Review. Cureus, [online] 16(7). doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.65257.
2. Chen, C., Li, X., Lu, S., Yang, J. and Liu, Y. (2024). Acupuncture for clinical improvement of endometriosis-related pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-024-07675-z.
3. Li, H., Wang, X., Wang, Y., Gao, Y., Zheng, X., Zhang, X., Li, X., Zheng, X., Fan, X., Zuo, G. and She, Y. (2024). Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Endometriosis: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Pain Research, [online] Volume 17, pp.3197–3216. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/jpr.s488343.
4. Su, Y., Ji, R., Zheng, X., Jia, Y., Zhu, H., Li, C., Yu, Z., Zhu, M., Yu, S., Tian, X., Yang, J. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture-related therapies in symptomatic endometriosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2025 Mar;311(3):697-714. doi: 10.1007/s00404-025-07979-8.
5. Wang, Y., Coyle, M.E., Hong, M., He, S., Zhang, A.L., Guo, X., Lu, C., Xue, C.C.L. and Liang, X. (2023). Acupuncture and moxibustion for endometriosis: A systematic review and analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, [online] 76, p.102963. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102963.
6. Xu, Y., Zhao, W., Li, T., Zhao, Y., Bu, H. and Song, S. (2017). Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 12(10), p.e0186616. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186616.