Acupuncture and AMH: Can It Improve Ovarian Reserve Hormones?

A recent controlled study sheds valuable insight into how acupuncture and AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) levels may be connected, especially in women approaching later reproductive years. This research adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting acupuncture could help support ovarian reserve, fertility preservation, and reproductive potential.

While the study was designed to evaluate the effects of acupuncture on insomnia during perimenopause, the findings may have secondary relevance for those interested in ovarian reserve and fertility preservation.

The study compared a group receiving the traditional Chinese acupuncture method of “regulating liver and nourishing blood” with a control group taking alprazolam for sleep disturbances. After four weeks, the acupuncture group showed not only improved sleep, mood, and quality of life, but also significant hormonal changes. Notably, levels of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) decreased, while Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and oestradiol (E2) levels increased. These are the hormones commonly used to evaluate ovarian reserve and reproductive potential.

Elevated FSH or reduced AMH levels are often indicators of diminished ovarian reserve and age-related fertility decline. That participants who received acupuncture treatments experienced a reduction in FSH and, more surprisingly, signs of increases in AMH is especially noteworthy. AMH levels are generally expected to decline with age, and there are currently no widely accepted interventions known to reverse this trend. In clinical settings, some practitioners have also observed similar improvements in AMH after regular acupuncture sessions.

These findings point to the potential of acupuncture as a supportive therapy for those facing age-related fertility challenges or exploring fertility preservation options. Rather than simply addressing symptoms, acupuncture may contribute to creating a hormonal environment more conducive to ovulation, conception, and long-term reproductive health.

For individuals looking to improve ovarian reserve, preserve fertility, or support natural conception, especially where AMH levels are a concern, acupuncture offers a promising complementary option. Its ability to influence hormone levels – especially AMH and FSH – makes it a compelling addition to holistic fertility and fertility preservation strategies.

This research brings hope to many trying to conceive later in life and to those actively exploring ways to preserve their fertility, reinforcing the role of acupuncture in enhancing reproductive wellness through natural, hormone-supportive mechanisms.

A Randomized Controlled Study on the Treatment of Perimenopausal Insomnia With the Acupuncture Method of “Regulating Liver and Nourishing Blood”

Zixuan Zhao https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2504-7114, Guangzhong Du https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8203-2718, and Qingchen Zhou https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0314-0327 zzcybyq@163.comView all authors and affiliations
OnlineFirst
https://doi.org/10.1177/03601293251348114
Abstract
Objective:
This study aims to verify the clinical efficacy of the “regulating liver and nourishing blood” acupuncture method in treating insomnia during perimenopause.
Method:
A total of 84 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The CG received 0.4 mg alprazolam tablets, once nightly, for 4 weeks, whereas the EG was treated with “regulating liver and nourishing blood” acupuncture. The treatment duration was 30 min per session, once daily, for a total of 4 weeks. Changes in Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Kupperman index (KI), menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire, self-rating depression scale (SDS), and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores and serum E2, LH, FSH, and AMH levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.
Result:
After 4 weeks of treatment, the PSQI, KI, MENQOL, SDS, and SAS scores in the EG were significantly lower than those before treatment and those in the CG (p?<?0.05). Serum E2 and AMH levels in the EG were significantly higher than those before treatment and those in the CG. FSH levels in the EG were significantly lower than those in the CG (p?<?0.05), while LH levels showed no significant change (p?>?0.05).
Conclusion:
Acupuncture with the “regulating liver and nourishing blood” method can improve sleep quality, alleviate anxiety and depression, enhance the quality of life, and regulate hormonal imbalances in perimenopausal women.

Read the Full Study

You can read the complete article in SAGE Open Medicine The Effect of Acupuncture on Hormonal Profiles in Women of Advanced Reproductive Age here.