Hormonal imbalances

Some of the most rewarding disturbances in the body to treat are imbalances in the reproductive hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, which give rise to problems such as painful periods, irregular periods and premenstrual tension syndrome (PMT), and associated with these, painful lumpy breasts.

Later in life, hot flushes and other menopausal problems such as depression, muscle and joint pains and fatigue will be helped as acupuncture rebalances the hormonal pathways.

Hot flushes associated with Tamoxifen treatment (for breast cancer) usually respond well (Acupuncture in Medicine (2000) June (18):1, 22-27).

Post natal depression (baby blues) also seems to be helped in the majority of cases.

Infertility, when there is no structural or anatomical cause, may be helped by acupuncture, probably by rebalancing hormonal imbalances, regulating any disturbance in the cycle, and also by relieving stress and anxiety. A recent study in Germany showed that only 26.3% of women treated with IVF conceived but this figure rose to 42.5% when acupuncture was also used. In other words the success rate for pregnancies nearly doubles, and it seems that electroacupuncture may be even more effective than needles. (Fertility and Sterility April 2002 (4):721-4).

We have developed a combined treatment technique utilising nNEAP and MBT (mind body techniques) to optimise fertility and enhance the chances of a successful pregnancy naturally and without invasive and hi-tech techniques. Please see the special section Infertility.

HRT and menopausal problems - an alternative approach

Women taking the most common form of hormone replacement therapy in Britain are twice as likely to develop breast cancer,compared with those who don't.

The 'Million Women Study' has found that combined oestrogen-progestogen therapy is twice as likely to lead to breast cancer compared with women who take no type of HRT.

Women on oestrogen-only HRT are 30% more likely than non-users to develop breast cancer.

These are relative risks. In absolute terms there will be an extra 6 cases of breast cancer for every 1000 women using any form of HRT for 5 years.

Combined HRT can also increase the risk of heart attacks by 29%, strokes by 41% and blood clots (DVT and pulmonary embolism) by 100%.

Using HRT for one year carries no increased odds of breast cancer.

As soon as treatment with HRT is stopped the increased risk of breast cancer declines and after 5 years is back to the same level as a non-user.

The German Commission on the Safety of Medicines has just published a report stating that the risks of HRT clearly outweigh the benefits.

It recommended that doctors offer the treatment only to women with particularly severe menopausal symptoms.  It also recommended that treatment be as short, and the doses as low, as possible.

The head of the commission called HRT a "national and international tragedy".  He compared the use of HRT to the use of thalidomide and said that the "naive and careless use of medication that is perceived as natural and optimal" had caused many unnecessary deaths among women.

Although the risks have to be put into perspective, many women will not want to double their risk of serious disease, and indeed, HRT does not suit everyone - rapid and substantial weight gain, increased body hair and depression are some of the commoner side effects.  There are effective alternatives.

Acupuncture and electroacupuncture

Acupuncture and electroacupuncture have both been shown to be very helpful in the management of hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms, and have no serious side effects.  Electroacupuncture seems to be more effective than needle acupuncture for this, as for some other condtions.

One study showed a success rate of about 50% while another had an 82% success rate.

For the past 16 years Dr Monk has used electroacupuncture to treat menopausal symptom such as

• hot flushes
• depression
• anxiety
• panic attacks
• palpitations
• insomnia
• tiredness and fatigue
• joint and muscle pains

Electroacupuncture has been shown to be more effective than needle acupuncture and to give a more lasting response.

Acupuncture points on the body and on the ear are stimulated using a very gentle electrical signal. The treatment takes 20-30 minutes and the effects build up over a few sessions to become very long lasting. The average number of treatments is about 6, although some women will need more than this.

The effect of treatment may last for several years, or may be permanent. Some women will need a booster treatment once or twice a year.

Male problems

Acupuncture has also been shown to have a beneficial effect in the treatment of male infertility or subfertility. Two studies have shown an increase in sperm count and motility, and concluded that acupuncture may be a useful nontraumatic treatment for males with very poor sperm density, especially those with a history of genital tract inflammation.