Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, single-use sterile needles at specific points on the body. At SOMOM it is provided by a regulated practitioner trained in acupuncture, and it is used as one part of your care — alongside pelvic floor physiotherapy, massage and your medical care, rather than in place of them.

What acupuncture may help with

People choose acupuncture for a range of concerns. It is most often used to help manage:

• Musculoskeletal pain and muscle tension, including the neck, back and hips
• Tension-type headaches
• Stress and difficulty winding down
• Certain pregnancy-related discomforts
• Some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and disturbed sleep

Your practitioner will talk through whether acupuncture is a reasonable option for what you are experiencing, and will be honest about what it can and cannot offer.

What a session involves

After a short discussion of your symptoms and history, you rest comfortably while the needles are placed. Most people feel little more than a small sensation as each needle goes in. The needles usually stay in place for a short while as you relax, and single-use, sterile needles are always used. Many people find the session itself calming.

Acupuncture in pregnancy and women’s health

Acupuncture is sometimes used to help manage discomforts across the reproductive years, including period-related pain, some pregnancy-related aches and certain symptoms around menopause. In pregnancy, care is adapted appropriately and coordinated with your OB or midwife, and your practitioner works within safe, sensible limits for your stage and situation.

A measured, evidence-informed view

We think it is important to be straightforward: the strength of evidence for acupuncture varies by condition. For some kinds of pain and tension there is supportive evidence; for other uses the evidence is more limited or mixed. Your practitioner will give you a realistic picture rather than overstate what acupuncture can do, and will encourage appropriate medical care where that is what a problem needs.

Is acupuncture safe?

When it is performed by a trained, regulated practitioner using single-use sterile needles, acupuncture is generally well tolerated. Any side effects are usually minor and short-lived — for example slight bruising or tenderness at a needle site. Your practitioner will ask about your health and any medications before treatment, and will let you know if acupuncture is not suitable for you or if another approach would serve you better.

Working alongside your care team

Because acupuncture is offered in the same clinic as your other care, it can be integrated sensibly with your physiotherapy, massage and wider treatment plan, with information shared only with your consent. It is always a complement to your medical care, not a replacement for it.