Islington Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatment in North London

Acupuncture for Endometriosis & Adenomyosis

Acupuncture treats endometriosis as a multi system disease. Endometriosis is now known to be a complex inflammatory condition with links to the immune, digestive and nervous systems. Adenomyosis is similarly complex (and is discussed in more detail below).

Acupuncture for endometriosis related pain and symptoms

Distinctive symptoms of endometriosis include:

  • Severe or progressive pelvic or lower back pain
  • Pain that disrupts daily activities
  • Pain during or after sex
  • Heavy or clotted periods
  • Bloating, IBS or erratic bowel function
  • Persistent fatigue and low mood

What is the difference between period pain and endometriosis? Period pain affects many women of reproductive age. It tends to last a few days around the start of the period and is usually relieved by pain killers. Endometriosis is estimated to affect 10% of UK women.

What to expect from your treatment

At Islington Acupuncture, we take a whole-body approach to endometriosis – addressing sleep, stress, gut health and inflammation. We take a detailed medical case history and design a personalised treatment strategy. This will involve acupuncture and a combination of massage, heat therapy, dietary advice and herbal medicine. 

Acupuncture, the gut microbiome and endometriosis

Gastrointestinal symptoms – such as bloating, gas and erratic bowel function are common in women with endometriosis. This connection is increasingly linked to the gut microbiome and may contribute to systemic inflammation, impaired immune function, altered oestrogen metabolism and disease progression ( Reproduction and Fertility, 2024). Acupuncture’s effects on gut motility and inflammation are well-established (although studies specifically in women with endometriosis are limited).

In clinic, we combine acupuncture with dietary guidance for endometriosis-related digestive symptoms and refer to nutritional therapy or functional medicine practitioners where appropriate.

Acupuncture for endometriosis and fertility

Endometriosis can reduce fertility by causing damage to the tubes and ovaries and impaired implantation and immune function. Your acupuncturist will help you to identify how your reproductive organs may be impacted, and will offer treatment and advice to support fertility.

What is adenomyosis?

Adenomyosis is an inflammatory condition in which endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, responding to hormonal changes in the cycle to thicken, break down and bleed – causing heavy, painful periods. It is frequently missed; MRI provides the most accurate diagnosis. It is not uncommon to have both endometriosis and adenomyosis simultaneously.

Adenomyosis can have a negative impact on fertility, particularly at the implantation stage, due to changes to the uterine wall alongside inflammatory and immune factors. 

Acupuncture treatment for adenomyosis

Your first appointment includes a detailed case history covering your symptoms, cycle, medical history and general health. We use this to build a personalised treatment plan, which may include:

  • Acupuncture and electroacupuncture
  • Heat therapy
  • Dietary guidance
  • Referral where appropriate (Chinese Herbal Medicine, Functional Medicine)

For endometriosis and adenomyosis, treatment is typically planned across several months. We recommend starting with six weekly sessions and reviewing progress together. Treatment draws on the shared inflammatory mechanisms with endometriosis, and acupuncture’s documented effects on pain, inflammation, pelvic blood flow and hormone balance. We work as part of your wider healthcare picture, not as a replacement for medical care.

What the research shows

The evidence for Traditional Chinese Medicine and endometriosis is growing:

  • A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that acupuncture ‘demonstrated clinically relevant improvements in pelvic pain and should be considered as a potential treatment intervention’ for endometriosis – while noting that overall evidence certainty is currently low to moderate, and that larger trials are needed (Giese, Kwon and Armour, 2023).
  • A 2024 meta-analysis of 14 RCTs (793 patients) found acupuncture was associated with reductions in pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea, improved quality of life, and lower recurrence – although study quality remains a limitation (Chen et al., 2024).
  • Chinese Herbal Medicine has a growing evidence base for endometriosis. A 2026 network meta-analysis of over 100 trials found blood-invigorating herbal formulas, used alongside conventional treatment, improved pain, hormone regulation, and reduced recurrence compared with conventional treatment alone (Liu et al., 2026).

Acupuncture is thought to help with endometriosis through several mechanisms:

  • Anti-inflammatory effects – reduces the prostaglandins and inflammatory chemicals that drive endometriosis pain (Giese, Kwon and Armour, 2023)
  • Pelvic blood flow – supports healthy uterine and pelvic circulation, which may ease congestive pain
  • Hormonal balance – helps to regulate hormonal fluctuations across the cycle, supporting both pain and mood

A note on testing

The definitive test for endometriosis is a pelvic laparoscopy. Two newer non-invasive diagnostic tests, EndoSure and Endotest – have been recommended for use in the NHS in NICE’s draft early use guidance (July 2026), whilst further evidence on their accuracy is collected. EndoSure detects endometriosis by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads on the abdomen; Endotest analyses a saliva sample for biological markers associated with endometriosis. These are worth discussing with your GP, particularly if you have normal clinical examination results, inconclusive imaging results or awaiting a laparoscopy.

Is Acupuncture safe ? 

Acupuncture has a very strong safety record. In the largest UK study of its kind, covering over 34,000 acupuncture treatments given by professional acupuncturists, researchers recorded no serious adverse events (MacPherson et al., 2001). Every treatment at Islington Acupuncture is carried out by British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) registered practitioners. BAcC members complete a minimum of three years’ degree-level training and follow a strict Code of Safe Practice covering hygiene and clinical safety. We use pre-sterilised, single-use, disposable needles.