Acupuncture as a Complimentary and Alternative Method of Managing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Thesis (M.Nurs.), College of Nursing, Washington State UniversityThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by reviewing clinical trials and randomized and observational studies. The mechanism of acupuncture treatment in PCOS and implications for future use are aIso reviewed. A comprehensive literature search was conducted through the databases Medline, PubMed, Allied and Complimentary Medicine (AMED), and The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) to identify all relevant articles. Available acupuncture studies on human subjects with PCOS from 1976 to 2009 were reviewed. Even though more research is needed to discover the true effect of acupuncture, studies imply incidence of side effects make it an excellent alternative treatment option for women with PCOS