Women’s Health

There are so many aspects of wellbeing linked to women’s health – both physical and emotional.

I regularly see women who are struggling with heavy periods, experiencing uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, going through IVF or who have suffered the loss of a baby. I know that these experiences can be deeply traumatic and upsetting and would love to help you using a range of therapies from my Harrogate studio.

Below is a range of some of the most common women’s health issues I help to treat:

Fertility

Over the last 22 years, I have helped women and couples who are struggling with issues including unexplained infertility, miscarriage, secondary infertility, or are going through IVF or ICSI.

Acupuncture can help with both male and female fertility issues by rebalancing hormones, regulating the menstrual cycle, stimulating the production of healthy sperm and eggs. It also helps to reduce stress and anxiety and has scientifically been shown to be effective in the treatment of unexplained fertility issues.

Acupuncture also helps to support the treatment of existing health conditions such as polycystic ovaries, endometriosis and amenorrhea (lack of a menstrual cycle).

Like all treatments, fertility acupuncture is tailored to the individual and takes into consideration their lifestyle, stress levels, sleeping and eating habits and nutrition to optimise conditions for a healthy pregnancy to be achieved. The goal of infertility Acupuncture treatment from a Chinese medicine perspective is not just to get pregnant, but to stay pregnant and to have a healthy baby.

Among many other benefits, acupuncture can provide better blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, creating a stronger chance for an egg to be nourished and develop into a healthy baby.

Although, acupuncture is usually the treatment of choice for individuals with fertility issues I also offer Reflexology or Hypnotherapy as an option for those who are not keen on acupuncture.

Hypnotherapy is particularly beneficial if the individual or couple are worrying about their ability to conceive. It can be a worrying and anxious time for a couple whether they are trying to conceive their first child or subsequent children. For some women who are trying to conceive their second child, there is fear & worry any complications that arose during the birth of their first child will have a negative impact on their ability to conceive further children.

Hypnotherapy can be a wonderfully relaxing experience that can really help you increase your confidence and belief that you will be able to conceive naturally or by using an assisted fertility programme such as IVF.

To maximise the benefit of the Hypnotherapy treatment I record the Hypnosis session on your mobile phone, so you can listen to the recording anytime you wish to.

I also offer Reflexology treatments to women & men who are trying to conceive and during pregnancy. Reflexology is a wonderfully relaxing experience and can really help to reduce the level of stress hormones in the body which positively increases conception rates and maintain a healthy pregnancy.

If time allows I can add a short Reflexology treatment to the Acupuncture treatment at no additional cost to increase your sense of relaxation and enhance a good restful night’s sleep.

I offer a free 45-minute consultation which is a great opportunity for you to discuss your concerns and needs.

Pregnancy & Childbirth

Acupuncture is a really effective way to support pregnancy. It can be used to help alleviate morning sickness, help with symphysis pubis dysfunction, anxiety and keep the mind and body in balance throughout pregnancy, help to prepare for childbirth and encourage the body into the best conditions for labour.

When the foetus is in the breech position, labour can be complicated. Labour consists of a series of rhythmic, involuntary, progressive contractions of the uterus that cause effacement (thinning and shortening) and dilation of the uterine cervix. In a first pregnancy, labour usually lasts 12 to 18 hours on average; subsequent labours are often shorter, averaging 6 to 8 hours. During labour, most women need some form of analgesia, and some may require local anaesthesia during stitching if they tear during the birth. Normal labour usually begins within 2 weeks (before or after) the estimated delivery date.

Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional well-being. Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promote relaxation (Hui 2010)

For pregnant women, acupuncture may help to relieve pain (e.g. back pain, labour pain), improve mood and reduce anxiety, alleviate dyspepsia, and turn a foetus who is breech by:

increasing relaxation and reducing tension. Acupuncture can alter the brain’s mood chemistry, reducing serotonin levels, and increasing endorphins and neuropeptide Y levels, which can help to combat negative affective states.
stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord;
reducing inflammation, by promoting the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors;
increasing cortico-adrenal secretion, placental estrogens, and changes in prostaglandin levels, which leads to raised basal tone of the uterus and enhanced movement of the fetus, thus making version more likely.

Menopause

Menopause, defined as the end of the last menstrual period, occurs at a median age of 53. The change in hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause, particularly the decline in levels of oestrogen, can cause acute menopausal symptoms; for example, about 30-70% of women in Western countries will experience vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats. Some women also report vaginal dryness and psychological symptoms, including tiredness, sleep problems, mood swings, forgetfulness, anxiety and loss of libido. The median duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms is about 4 years but, in around 10% of women, they last longer than 12 years.

Acupuncture may help reduce symptoms of menopause and perimenopause by:

regulating serum estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteotrophic hormone;
increasing relaxation and reducing tension. Acupuncture can alter the brain’s mood chemistry, reducing serotonin levels and increasing endorphins and neuropeptide Y levels, which can help to combat negative affective states.
stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to the release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder. Up to one-third of women in the UK have polycystic ovaries (i.e. 10 or more follicles per ovary detected on ultrasound), and around a third of these are thought to have the syndrome. PCOS is strongly associated with hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction and obesity. The syndrome also increases the risk for metabolic disturbances such as hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, hypertension and an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular risk factors and impaired mental health later in life.

Despite extensive research, little is known about the aetiology of PCOS, but the syndrome is associated with peripheral and central factors that influence sympathetic nerve activity. Thus, the sympathetic nervous system may be an important factor in the development and maintenance of PCOS.

Research has shown that acupuncture treatment may specifically help with symptoms of PCOS by:

impacting on beta-endorphin production, which may affect gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion;
a regulatory effect on follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone ( LH) and androgens;
modulating the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and improving blood flow to the ovaries;
regulating steroid hormone/peptide receptors;
downregulating the expressions of serum levels of testosterone and oestradiol;
controlling hyperglycemia by increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing blood glucose and insulin levels;
acting on areas of the brain known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the ‘analytical’ brain, which is responsible for anxiety and worry;
increasing the release of adenosine, which has antinociceptive properties
reducing inflammation, by promoting the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is often a painful disorder in which tissue that normally grows lines the inside of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus. This chronic & common condition is characterised by the growth of endometrial tissue in sites other than the uterus (the womb), most commonly involving the ovaries, fallopian tubes, but it can also be found attached to the bladder or bowel, or on occasions the lungs.

This endometrial tissue responds to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle, with subsequent bleeding, inflammation, and pain. If the ovaries are affected, ovarian cysts may develop. Common symptoms include painful periods, painful sexual intercourse, non-cyclical pelvic and abdominal pain, and reduced fertility. When endometriosis remains untreated, the disease progresses in around a third of women but seems either to resolve or does not progress in the rest. The prevalence is estimated to vary from 2-22% of women and, in women with painful periods, the incidence of endometriosis is 40-60%. Management of pain in women with endometriosis is often inadequate.

It has been shown that acupuncture treatment may specifically be of benefit in people with endometriosis by reducing pain.

Painful Periods

Dysmenorrhoea is painful cramps originating in the uterus just prior to or during menstruation. It can be primary (i.e. without any organic pathology) or secondary (i.e. associated with a pathological condition, such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts). The pain usually lasts between 8 and 72 hours.

Adolescent girls are more likely than older women to have primary dysmenorrhoea because the condition can get better with age. Secondary dysmenorrhoea tends to be less common in adolescents, as onset of causative conditions may not have occurred yet. Estimates suggest that around 25-50% of adult women and about 75% of adolescents experience pain with menstruation, and some 5-20% report severe pain that prevents them from carrying on with their usual activities. The longer the mean duration of menstruation the more severe the dysmenorrhoea. Also, younger age at menarche and cigarette smoking have been associated with dysmenorrhoea.

Recent systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) found that both acupuncture (Cho 2010a) and acupressure (Cho 2010b) are effective for primary dysmenorrhoea, providing significantly more pain relief than pharmacological treatments.

Acupuncture may help reduce symptoms of dysmenorrhoea by:

regulating neuroendocrine activities and the related receptor expression of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis
increasing nitric oxide levels, which relaxes smooth muscle and hence may inhibit uterine contractions
increasing relaxation and reducing tension. Acupuncture can alter the brain’s mood chemistry, reducing serotonin levels and increasing endorphins and neuropeptide Y levels, which can help to combat negative affective states
stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord
reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors

Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Diagnosis of PMS is based on the presence of at least five symptoms, including one of four core psychological symptoms, from a list of 17 physical and psychological symptoms. The 17 symptoms are depression, feeling hopeless or guilty, anxiety/tension, mood swings, irritability/persistent anger, decreased interest, poor concentration, fatigue, food craving or increased appetite, sleep disturbance, feeling out of control or overwhelmed, poor coordination, headache, aches, swelling/bloating/weight gain, cramps, and breast tenderness.

The cause of PMS is unknown, but hormonal and other factors probably contribute. The aim of conventional treatment is to improve or eliminate physical and psychological symptoms; to minimise the impact on normal functioning, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life; and to minimise adverse effects of treatment.

Acupuncture can help reduce the symptoms of PMS by:

increasing relaxation and reducing tension . Acupuncture can alter the brain’s mood chemistry, reducing serotonin levels and increasing endorphins and neuropeptide Y levels, which can help to combat negative affective states.
stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors, and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord;
reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors.

Get in touch

I offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation so that each individual has the opportunity to discuss what is going on for them without any pressure to proceed with treatment and to make sure that they feel happy and confident to work with me.