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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Pelvic Floor Pain

Updated: Mar 27



Did you know one in five women, and people assigned female at birth in Australia experience pelvic pain in their lifetime. 


According to 2023 Pelvic Pain in Australia report from National Women’s Health Survey, 47% of women in Australia experienced pelvic floor pain in the last 5 years. Only 19% of these women felt like they had the necessary information to manage their symptoms while 35% of those surveyed feeling that nothing could be done. 


So you may be wondering what exactly is pelvic pain and how can Chinese medicine help you.



What is Pelvic Pain?


Pelvic Floor pain is best described as intermittent and continuous, cyclical and non-cyclical pain in the lower abdomen. The characteristic of pelvic floor pain can vary significantly and be described as dull ache, sharp pain, throbbing and cramping; which can range from levels of severity. Pelvic floor pain is a diverse pain symptom of dysmenorrhea, ovulation pain, dyspareunia, dyschezia and dysuria as well as considerable fatigue and negative impacts on mental health and impacting quality of life.


According to a 2021 cross sectional study in Australia, endometriosis and vulvodinia are the two most common diagnosed causes of chronic pelvic pain in women of reproductive age. Other conditions that cause acute and chronic pelvic floor pain symptoms include painful bladder syndrome, fibroids, chronic urinary tract infection, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and malignancy, as well as injuries related to childbirth, neurological entrapment and psychological and psychosocial factors.


At Melbourne Reproductive Acupuncture we most commonly see women and people assigned female at birth presenting to the clinic with pelvic pain due to the following conditions; endometriosis, adenomyosis, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, vulvodynia, birthing parents during pregnancy and postpartum period.



Understanding Pelvic Pain from a Chinese Medicine Perspective


“Tong ze bu tong, bu tong ze tong”, is a famous Chinese proverb and fundamental principle of Chinese philosophy which translates to mean in English, “if there is free flow, there is no pain; if there is pain, there is lack of free flow.”


In Chinese medicine we work with a different paradigm of diagnosis and treat according to a pattern of diagnosis rather then the symptoms one may be experiencing. This infamous Chinese proverb can be applied to the key principles of Chinese medicine.


Pelvic pain from a Chinese medicine perspective is a sign of stagnation or imbalance in the flow of qi and blood within the body causing pain. The causes of an imbalance of flow or qi and blood can be due to a numerous number of reasons. It is important that as a practitioner we find the root of the issue and treat it accordingly, rather then treat the symptom.



Effectiveness of Chinese Medicine for Pelvic Floor Pain


According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acupuncture can effectively improve and alleviate the symptoms of chronic pelvic pain. It is believed that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help manage and treat pelvic pain by reducing pain, improving blood flow and circulation and balance hormones. Acupuncture can also help manage stress, sleep, digestive system, diet and lifestyle, which are all influential factors that can exacerbate and or contribute to pelvic pain. 



Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations 


Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are effective in treating pain, however, it is important to manage pelvic pain by introducing diet and lifestyle recommendations to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation and manage pain.


At Melbourne Reproductive Acupuncture we most commonly recommend the following lifestyle recommendations to manage pain.


  • Anti-inflammatory diet that is high in fibre

  • Eat warm cooked food, tea and drinks

  • Prioritising 8 hours of sleep

  • Heat to help increase circulation

  • TENS machine when experiencing pain

  • Daily diaphragmatic breathing 

  • Daily pelvic floor and hip stretches/exercises

  • Move your body daily but avoid exercises that will exacerbate pain

  • Appropriate supplementation

  • Find your team of health care professionals to help manage your symptoms 





Team to Help Support You


According to the cross sectional study, 51% of women with pelvic pain use traditional, complimentary and integrative medicine to manage their pelvic pain which includes acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. 


Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is a common therapy used in conjunction with women’s health physiotherapists, gynaecologists, naturopath, exercise physiology, sexologists and psychologists to manage and support a patient experiencing pelvic floor pain. 


We highly recommend exploring your options and finding a team of health professionals that feels right for you to support and manage your pelvic floor pain. 


Have any questions?


We recommending scheduling in a 10 minute free discovery call to ask any questions you may have, otherwise book your appointment below.


Book your appointment


If you are interested in learning more or booking in with one of our qualified and experienced practitioners, please book online via the link below or call us on (03) 9132 0287.







(03) 9132 0287


Resources / References:

PMCID: PMC8229696

PMID: 38054110


Written by Meghan Smith

BHSc (TCM)

AHPRA and AACMA



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