If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS, you’ve probably been told to lose weight, take the pill, or wait and see. And while those conversations have their place, many of my clients arrive in my Clapham treatment room feeling frustrated — because they want to understand what’s actually happening in their body, and what they can do about it naturally.
This is where Traditional Chinese Medicine sees things very differently. 
What is PCOS — and why is it so complex?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome affects roughly 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK. It’s a hormonal and metabolic condition characterised by irregular or absent periods, elevated androgens (male hormones), and often — though not always — multiple small follicles on the ovaries.
But here’s what makes PCOS so frustrating to live with: it looks different in every woman. Some have insulin resistance. Some have high testosterone. Some have both. Some have none of the classic symptoms but still carry the diagnosis. Western medicine tends to manage symptoms — the pill for periods, metformin for insulin resistance — without always addressing the underlying imbalance.
TCM looks at it differently.
How TCM sees PCOS
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, PCOS is most commonly associated with what we call Kidney deficiency combined with Phlegm-Damp accumulation — which sounds strange in Western terms, but essentially means the body’s reproductive energy is depleted and the system is congested, preventing eggs from maturing and releasing properly.
Treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your specific TCM pattern — which I assess in your initial consultation — we might focus on warming and tonifying Kidney Yang, clearing Damp, moving Blood stagnation, or calming Liver Qi. Every treatment plan is different, because every woman with PCOS is different.
What does the research say?
The evidence is genuinely encouraging. Clinical evidence has shown that acupuncture is effective for regulating hormone levels, promoting ovulation, and reducing insulin resistance in patients with PCOS. Taylor & Francis Online
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture and its combined therapies may have beneficial effects on the endocrine and metabolic states of women with PCOS — particularly when compared to metformin alone. Springer
Research also suggests acupuncture may help reduce the side effects of fertility medications in women with PCOS undergoing IVF including reducing the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome.
As always with complementary medicine, the research is still evolving but the direction is consistently positive, and in clinic I see the difference it makes every week.
What treatment looks like with me
When a client comes to me with PCOS, we start with a thorough initial consultation. I review your blood tests, scan results, and cycle history. I ask about your energy, your digestion, your sleep, your stress levels — because in TCM, all of these are connected to your reproductive health.
From there, I build a weekly treatment plan tailored to your cycle and your specific TCM pattern. We typically work together for a minimum of three months because that’s how long it takes for an egg to fully mature, and real hormonal change takes time.
Alongside acupuncture, I often recommend:
- Dietary adjustments to support insulin sensitivity
- Specific lifestyle changes to reduce Phlegm-Damp
- Referral to an endocrinologist or/and sonographer if further investigation is needed
You don’t have to just manage PCOS — you can work with your body
PCOS doesn’t have to mean infertility. Many of my clients with PCOS have gone on to conceive naturally or through IVF. The key is understanding your specific pattern and addressing the root cause — not just the symptoms.
If you’d like to talk through your situation, I offer a free 15-minute discovery call with no commitment.
Based at The Light Centre, Clapham SW4 — easy access from Brixton, Stockwell, Oval, Kennington and Battersea. Consultations in English and French.
[Book a free discovery call] | [Book your first appointment]
Silène Bricet — Specialist Fertility Acupuncturist, Clapham, London. Member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and Acupuncture Fertility Network (AFN). Advanced Diploma in Fertility Acupuncture.
Research references for this post
- Frontiers in Endocrinology (2022) — Underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy on PCOS
- Annals of Medicine (2025) — Acupuncture and combined therapies for PCOS: systematic review and meta-analysis
- BMC Complementary Medicine (2024) — Acupuncture dose and pregnancy outcomes in PCOS women undergoing IVF
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