Author: Dr. Richard Zeng (Acupuncturist Melbourne TCM Doctor)

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One of my regular patients asked me recently:

“Can I still have acupuncture when I’m on my period? Will it affect my menstrual flow?”

It’s a question I hear often, so I want to walk through how I think about it.

In my clinical experience, for most people, having acupuncture during their period isn’t, by itself, a reason to postpone treatment. That said, I always individualise treatment according to your symptoms, health, menstrual flow and the reason you’re seeking care.

Some patients worry that acupuncture might increase menstrual bleeding or interfere with the normal cycle. Others wonder whether they should avoid treatment altogether while menstruating, particularly if they’re trying to conceive or undergoing fertility treatment.

My answer is usually more straightforward than people expect: being on your period doesn’t automatically mean you need to avoid acupuncture.

What Does the Research Say About Acupuncture During Menstruation?

In my view, there’s no strong evidence that menstruation itself is a reason to routinely avoid acupuncture.

A published discussion specifically examining the question of acupuncture during menstruation found no clear evidence that treatment should be avoided simply because someone is having their period.¹

Acupuncture has also been studied for menstrual pain. A 2024 network meta-analysis of 70 randomised controlled trials involving 5,772 participants found potential benefits of acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhoea. However, the authors noted that the quality of the included evidence was generally low, so the findings should be interpreted with caution.²

More recently, a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis included 22 randomised controlled trials involving 1,955 participants. The review found that acupoint stimulation may reduce pain intensity in primary dysmenorrhoea, and it did not find a significant difference in adverse-event rates compared with control groups. However, the certainty of the evidence ranged from low to moderate because of limitations including risk of bias and substantial heterogeneity between studies.³

Importantly, these studies mainly concern acupuncture or acupoint stimulation for primary dysmenorrhoea (period pain).

That’s an important distinction for me to make clear.

It doesn’t mean acupuncture is right for everyone in every situation, and it doesn’t mean it’s completely free of possible adverse reactions. As with any healthcare treatment, I consider each person’s individual circumstances.

That’s why I always want to know about your menstrual cycle, your symptoms and any relevant medical conditions before I begin treatment.

Can Acupuncture Make Your Period Heavier?

This is one of the most common concerns I hear from patients.

In my experience, and based on the available evidence, there’s no good indication that simply having acupuncture while menstruating routinely causes heavier bleeding.

That said, menstrual flow naturally varies between people and from one cycle to the next. If your period is unusually heavy, prolonged or significantly different from your normal pattern, I wouldn’t want you to assume acupuncture is the cause.

Very heavy menstrual bleeding can sometimes point to an underlying gynaecological or medical issue, and I’ll often suggest it’s assessed by your doctor.

Please let me know if you:

normally have very heavy menstrual bleeding
have a known bleeding disorder
take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication
are feeling unusually weak, dizzy or unwell
have recently noticed a significant change in your menstrual pattern.

With that information, I can decide whether acupuncture is appropriate that day and whether to adjust my approach.

Can Acupuncture Help With Period Pain?

Many patients come to me specifically for help with menstrual pain and cramps.

Acupuncture has been studied for primary dysmenorrhoea, and systematic reviews have reported potential reductions in pain. I’d caution, though, that the evidence isn’t uniform — some reviews highlight limitations like study quality, heterogeneity and risk of bias.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, I don’t treat someone a certain way simply because they’re menstruating — treatment is individualised. In cases of period pain with clotting, for example, I’m often thinking about 血瘀 (xuè yū), or “Blood stasis,” and selecting points accordingly.

I’ll typically consider:

the severity and location of your menstrual pain
whether pain occurs before, during or after your period
menstrual flow and clotting
the length and regularity of your cycle
associated symptoms such as bloating, headaches, fatigue or nausea
your general health and treatment goals.

If period pain is severe, new or getting worse, I also think about whether further medical assessment is needed. Conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis or fibroids can cause significant menstrual pain and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Acupuncture During Your Period When Trying to Conceive

If you’re trying to conceive, having your period usually doesn’t mean you need to stop acupuncture.

In fertility care, I often adapt treatment timing according to where you are in your cycle, your symptoms, your fertility history, and whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or undergoing assisted reproductive treatment.

For some patients, I’ll include acupuncture during menstruation as part of an ongoing treatment plan. For others, the emphasis of treatment shifts as the cycle progresses.

There’s no single acupuncture schedule that’s right for everyone – this is something I work out with each patient individually.

If you’re interested in acupuncture as part of your fertility care, you can read more about my approach to fertility acupuncture, natural fertility support, and IVF acupuncture support.

Does Acupuncture Timing Matter During the Menstrual Cycle?

The menstrual cycle isn’t just one event to me – it moves through different stages, and your symptoms and treatment goals often change throughout it. This is close to the idea of 调经 (tiáo jīng), or “regulating the menstrual cycle,” where I adjust my approach according to each phase rather than treating every visit the same way.

During menstruation

Some patients see me during their period specifically for pain, discomfort or other symptoms. Others simply continue with acupuncture as part of an established treatment plan.

Being on your period alone doesn’t generally mean I’ll cancel treatment.

After menstruation

Once your period has finished, I’ll often adjust treatment according to your symptoms, cycle pattern and treatment goals.

For someone seeking fertility support, this tends to be part of a broader plan rather than a separate treatment just because the period has ended.

Around ovulation

My timing looks different for someone trying to conceive naturally compared with someone undergoing assisted reproductive treatment.

Rather than following a rigid calendar, I individualise this.

After ovulation

The focus can shift again depending on your symptoms and circumstances.

For patients undergoing IVF, I also take your fertility clinic’s treatment schedule into account when timing acupuncture.

The key point I’d want you to take away is that there’s no universal “best day” of the cycle for acupuncture. I base timing on the reason for treatment and your individual circumstances.

When Should You Postpone Acupuncture or Seek Medical Advice?

Menstruation itself isn’t usually a reason to cancel your appointment with me.

But do let me know if you’re feeling unwell, or if something about your period feels significantly different from usual.

I’d encourage you to seek medical assessment if you experience:

unusually heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
severe or rapidly worsening pelvic pain
fainting or significant dizziness
unexplained bleeding between periods
a sudden major change in your menstrual cycle
symptoms that concern you or fall outside your normal pattern.

I don’t see acupuncture as a substitute for medical assessment when a new or potentially significant symptom needs investigating.

What I’ll Ask You Before Treatment

Before we start, it’s useful for me to know:

that you’re currently menstruating

roughly which day of your cycle you’re on
whether your flow is light, moderate or unusually heavy
whether you have menstrual pain
whether you’re trying to conceive
whether you’re undergoing IVF or another fertility treatment
any relevant medications or medical conditions.

This helps me make an appropriate clinical assessment and choose a treatment approach that suits you that day. I’ll also adjust treatment if you’re feeling particularly sensitive, tired, or uncomfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have acupuncture while I’m on my period?

For most people, yes – menstruation itself isn’t a reason to avoid acupuncture. I’ll still consider your symptoms, health and reason for treatment before proceeding.

Can acupuncture make my period heavier?

There’s no good evidence that acupuncture routinely causes heavier bleeding simply because treatment is given during menstruation. If your bleeding is unusually heavy or has changed significantly, I’d suggest discussing this with your GP.

Can I have acupuncture during my period if I’m trying to get pregnant?

Yes. Menstruation doesn’t automatically rule out acupuncture as part of a fertility care plan – I adapt treatment timing according to your cycle, symptoms and fertility treatment.

Should I stop acupuncture when my period starts?

Not necessarily. If you’re already receiving acupuncture as part of an ongoing plan, I’ll usually continue and adjust according to your symptoms and circumstances.

Can I have acupuncture during IVF when I have my period?

I often use acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF care, but the timing needs to take your individual IVF protocol and fertility clinic schedule into account. It’s worth discussing complementary treatment with your fertility team.

Is acupuncture helpful for period pain?

I’ve seen it help many patients, and some systematic reviews report potential benefits. That said, evidence quality varies, so I can’t guarantee individual outcomes.

Should I have acupuncture if my period is unusually heavy or painful?

Tell me about your symptoms before we start. If the bleeding or pain is significantly different from your normal pattern- particularly if it’s severe or comes with dizziness or weakness – I’d also suggest medical assessment.

Bottom Line

For most people, being on your period doesn’t automatically mean acupuncture should be avoided.

What matters to me isn’t simply whether you’re menstruating, but why you’re having acupuncture, how you’re feeling, your menstrual symptoms and your overall health.

If you’re having acupuncture during your period, tell me where you are in your cycle and whether anything feels different from usual. I can then assess whether treatment is appropriate and adapt my approach where needed.

If you’re trying to conceive, I’ll often think about the timing and focus of acupuncture as part of your broader fertility care plan, rather than simply avoiding treatment during menstruation.

I see acupuncture as complementary care where appropriate – it shouldn’t replace medical investigation or treatment when that’s what’s needed.

References

Ying Lin, Hong Zhang, Thinking About Acupuncture During Your Period. 2016. PMID: 27323450. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27323450/
Chen B, Liu S, Jin F, Li T, Yang N, Xu Y, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture-related therapy in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Heliyon. 2024;10(10):e30912. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30912.
Wang Y, Liu L, Wu X, Wu Y, Qin R, Wang M, et al. Clinical evidence of acupoint stimulation for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis. J Pain Res. 2025;18:4307-4336. doi:10.2147/JPR.S533585. PMID:40893121.

Is Acupuncture Safe During Your Period? Should You Avoid It?