Acupuncture for Endometriosis: What Does the Research Say?
Individualised support for women living with endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain in Windsor, Melbourne.
Living with endometriosis can affect much more than your period. Pain may interfere with work, exercise, relationships and everyday activities, while the ongoing demands of managing symptoms can take an emotional toll. Many women explore acupuncture as part of a broader treatment plan. But what does the research tell us, and what can you realistically expect?
What has the research found?
A 2023 randomised clinical trial published in Fertility and Sterility involved 106 women with endometriosis-associated pain. Researchers compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture over 12 weeks.
At the end of treatment, the acupuncture group experienced:
A greater reduction in period pain.
A shorter duration of pain.
Greater improvements in measures of wellbeing and quality of life.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics brought together 14 randomised trials involving 793 participants. The included studies found:
Acupuncture was associated with lower endometriosis-related pain scores compared with control treatments.
A statistically significant reduction in serum CA-125 (inflammatory marker, often high in endometriosis).
The reviewed studies used various acupuncture techniques, therefore acupuncture may be worth considering for symptom support, with clear goals and regular checks to assess whether it is helping, ideally with an acupuncturist with expertise in women’s health and pelvic pain.
More recent research remains promising!
A 2025 systematic review and network meta-analysis examined several acupuncture-related approaches for symptomatic endometriosis, including treatments combined with medication or herbal therapies.
Writing for Endometriosis Australia, endometriosis researcher Dr Mike Armour stated: “The modality that has the most evidence in this area is acupuncture.” He also highlighted the importance of treatment frequency, suggesting an initial course of acupuncture once or twice weekly for three to four weeks to assess whether it provides benefit.
How might acupuncture influence pain?
Researchers propose that acupuncture may influence how pain signals are processed through the peripheral and central nervous systems. Proposed mechanisms include changes in the body’s own pain-modulating chemicals, such as endorphins, and other substances involved in pain signalling. Pain and nervous system activity can influence each other: persistent pain may heighten sensitivity to incoming signals, while the nervous system’s pain-modulating pathways can amplify or dampen the pain experienced.
Eight-Week Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Program
My community-based program in Windsor, Melbourne, offers individualised support for women living with endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain. As an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, I combine regular acupuncture with practical education, nutritional guidance and manageable lifestyle strategies alongside your existing medical care. The eight-week structure allows time to assess your response and adjust your care.
Depending on your needs and priorities, we may focus on:
Individualised acupuncture: tailored to your symptoms, medical history and any plans to conceive.
Nutrition and digestive wellbeing: supporting adequate nutrient intake, addressing identified deficiencies and discussing the role of the gut and reproductive microbiomes in health.
Practical food strategies: drawing on Chinese medicine food therapy and evidence-based nutrition, including Mediterranean-style, anti-inflammatory eating principles.
Gut and reproductive microbiome: exploring their roles in oestrogen metabolism, recurrent infections (UTI’s & BV) and inflammation, with practical nutrition strategies to support gut health.
Nervous system support: exploring relaxation, sleep and stress-management strategies as part of pain care.
Pain education: understanding how biological, psychological and social factors influence persistent pain.
Manageable lifestyle changes: introducing one achievable strategy each week, guided by your energy, preferences and daily responsibilities.
Symptom tracking: reviewing pain, sleep, daily functioning and progress towards your personal goals.
The aim is to support your health without making treatment or lifestyle changes overwhelming. We review your progress throughout the program, and continuing care depends on whether it provides worthwhile benefit. At the end of eight weeks, we can discuss further appointments, maintenance care or additional support based on your response.
Explore Support for Endometriosis in Windsor
You deserve care that takes your symptoms seriously and considers their impact on your everyday life.
My eight-week Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Program in Windsor, Melbourne, provides a structured opportunity to explore acupuncture alongside practical self-management support. The community model aims to reduce financial barriers to regular appointments, while keeping treatment individualised and outcomes under review.
To discuss whether the program is suitable for you, book an initial consultation with Dr Frances Tobeck. Together, we can identify your priorities and develop a supportive plan alongside your medical care. When booking please book an initial appointment and note ENDO2020 in the booking note. I look forward to seeing you soon!