Acupuncture for Endometriosis: How Can it Help?
Endometriosis has rarely felt more present in the public conversation than it does right now. Earlier this year, This Is Endometriosis — an intimate documentary by filmmaker and endo sufferer Georgie Wileman — won a BAFTA for Best British Short Film. It's a powerful, unflinching piece of work, and if you haven't seen it, it's free to watch on Vimeo. For anyone who has lived with this condition, or supported someone who has, it is deeply validating viewing.
And yet, despite this growing visibility, so many people are still waiting years for answers. That gap between awareness and access to proper care is exactly why conversations like this one matter.
What is Endometriosis And what causes it?
In simple terms, endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory, hormonal and immune-related condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus — on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, bowel, and sometimes beyond. Every cycle, that tissue responds just as the womb lining does — but unlike the womb lining, it has nowhere to go. The result is inflammation, pain, and over time, the potential for cysts and scarring.
What causes it? Honestly, that's still not fully understood — which tells you a lot about how underresearched this condition has been for too long. Genetics, immune irregularities, hormonal imbalances, retrograde menstruation, misplaced uterine tissue during c-section complications and environmental factors are all thought to play a role. Research is ongoing.
What causes Endometriosis AND HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 people with a menstrual cycle — roughly 190 million people worldwide. And yet the average diagnostic delay is still 7 to 9 years. Not because it's rare or complicated — but because painful periods have been normalised and dismissed for far too long.
The good news is that diagnosis is changing. Historically, confirming endometriosis required laparoscopy — surgery. But in 2025, the first saliva test for endometriosis was launched along with a new non invasive test called Endosure, which measures unique electrical signals, caused by the presence of Endometriosis. New clinical guidance now also supports a presumptive diagnosis based on symptoms and examination alone — meaning treatment can begin while investigations continue, rather than making people wait.
We're by no means where we need to be yet. But things are moving. 💛
Recognising Symptoms of Endometriosis
Endometriosis presents differently in every person, which is part of why it gets missed. Some people experience severe, debilitating pain. Others have symptoms that are subtler or attributed to something else entirely. Common signs include:
• 💔 Severe Period Pain – Pain significantly stronger and longer-lasting than typical menstrual cramps, that typically don’t respond to over the counter pain killers like paracetamol.
• ⚡️ Chronic Pelvic Pain – Ongoing discomfort throughout the month, even outside your period.
• 🌸 Pain During or After Sex – Deep discomfort affecting both physical intimacy and emotional connection.
• 🤰 Difficulty Conceiving – Fertility challenges due to blocked fallopian tubes, inflammation, or internal scarring.
• 🌿 Digestive Disturbances – Symptoms such as bloating, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea, particularly around your menstrual cycle.
• 😴 Fatigue and Exhaustion – Persistent tiredness from chronic pain, hormonal fluctuations, and emotional stress.
Recognising these signs early can help you get the right support sooner. If any of these feel familiar — and particularly if they've been dismissed or minimised — it's worth pursuing further investigation.
How Acupuncture Helps Women with Endometriosis
Acupuncture won't cure endometriosis — and anyone who tells you otherwise isn't being straight with you. What it can do, and what I see in clinic regularly, is make a meaningful difference to how the condition is experienced and managed.
By stimulating specific acupuncture points, we can help improve circulation to the pelvic region, reduce inflammation, regulate hormonal patterns, and address some of the pain pathways that make endometriosis so debilitating. Acupuncture also works on the nervous system — supporting the body's ability to manage chronic pain over time rather than simply masking it.
For those managing endometriosis alongside fertility challenges, acupuncture offers the additional benefit of supporting reproductive health more broadly — working to create a more balanced hormonal and immune environment that supports the body's natural function.
Clinical research backs this up. Studies published in Fertility and Sterility and the European Journal of Integrative Medicine have found acupuncture to provide significant relief from endometriosis-associated pain and improve quality of life — particularly when used alongside conventional treatment rather than instead of it. Acupuncture works best as part of an integrated approach. My role is not to replace your medical care, but to complement it — and to be your advocate in making sure you get the support you deserve.
Supporting YourSELF at Home
Alongside acupuncture, small changes at home can help manage some endometriosis symptoms more effectively:
🥗 Diet & Hormone Support: Many find relief by going gluten-free, cutting down on processed foods and sugars, reducing caffeine and alcohol and increasing fibre. Ensuring your diet is rich in anti-inflammatory foods, such as oily fish, nuts and seeds, organic fruit and vegetables, including plenty of leafy green vegetables is a great place to start. To get the best support consider working with a naturopath like myself or a nutritionist.
🌿 Herbal Remedies: Turmeric and ginger in cooking are natural anti-inflammatories and can complement your treatment plan when used as herbal preparations with professional guidance, such as a Naturopath, Western herbalist or Chinese herbal medicine practitioner.
💫 Period Care: Pads, period pants or menstrual cups are often a better option than tampons, which may contribute to retrograde flow. Always consider 100% organic cotton, plastic and fragrance free materials when using pads or tampons. I highly recommend Here We Flo’s range of 100% organic bamboo menstrual products, which feels ever so soft and dreamy next to our delicate intimate skin.
💊 Supplements: Targeted supplements can be beneficial, but should be chosen with your practitioner as part of a tailored plan. As a starting point, you may want to explore Vitamin D, Magnesium glycinate and Omega 3.
🧘 Exercise: Regular gentle movement (like yoga, Pilates, walking, or light weights) promotes blood flow and patients can respond better to treatment. Save higher-impact workouts for after your period, when energy and recovery are better supported.
🌱 Castor Oil Packs: Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, known for its anti-inflammatory and circulation-boosting properties. When applied onto cloth and placed on the abdomen, with a heat pack, it penetrates deep into the tissues to help reduce inflammation and ease pelvic pain. I have tried a few brands, but love CastorVida, which is a female founded brand focused on making Castor oil packs more accessible, easy to use, prepared using the purest, highest quality, organic ingredients and materials. When you visit their website, don’t forget to use my exclusive code SAMINA15 at the checkout, to get 15% off your purchases.
N.b Do not use castor oil or castor oil packs, when you are bleeding, if you are pregnant, have an IUD fitted, on blood thinners or have a diagnosed blood coagulation disorder. Always speak to your healthcare professional before starting any new treatments or routines.
Natalie’s story
Many women struggle silently with endometriosis, often believing severe pain is simply part of being a woman. This was true for one of my patients, whose journey highlights how vital compassionate care can be:
“Like many women, I was lead to believe that period pain was just a part of being a woman. My period pain was so severe I almost passed out, was unable to function and needed bed rest. Painkillers weren’t able to help and I started dreading my period each month. I began seeing Samina for acupuncture to support my menstrual health and general wellbeing and with her support, I finally found the courage to seek medical advice.
Having surgery to diagnose and remove the endometriosis, alongside my acupuncture treatments has been life changing for me—I can now manage my pain, and heavy bleeding is far less common. Samina’s knowledge, expertise and detailed approach has been second to none and I have never felt so considered as an entire person by any health practitioner before. Having her by my side, guiding me through this journey, has truly been invaluable.”
Final thoughts
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 people with a menstrual cycle — yet diagnosis still takes years. Discover how acupuncture can help manage pain, support hormonal balance, and improve quality of life alongside conventional treatment.
At Samina Haider Acupuncture & Naturopathy, we offer holistic, personalised care that looks at the whole picture. Not just your symptoms, but you.
✨ Ready to start the conversation? Book a free discovery call and let's talk about how acupuncture can support your health and help you reclaim your quality of life.
Sources:
NHS — Endometriosis. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/endometriosis/
ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline 11 (2026) — Diagnosis of Endometriosis. https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2026/02/acog-publishes-new-endometriosis-clinical-guidance-aiming-shorten-time-diagnosis-improve-access-care
Contemporary OB/GYN (2026) — Noninvasive blood test offers new diagnostic approach for endometriosis. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/non-invasive-blood-test-offers-new-diagnostic-approach-for-endometriosis
Zhao et al. (2023) — Acupuncture for endometriosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 66, 102165.
Li et al. (2023) — Efficacy of acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain: a multicenter randomized single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Fertility and Sterility, 119(5), pp. 792–800.
This Is Endometriosis — BAFTA Winner Best British Short Film 2026. Free to watch at Vimeo. https://www.thisisendo.com
Johns Hopkins Medicine — Endometriosis. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/endometriosis
Endometriosis UK — Facts and Figures. https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/endometriosis-facts-and-figures