Pelvic Care Blog
Our blog is dedicated to supporting acupuncturists who specialize or hope to specialize in pelvic health. We hope you enjoy our musings and offerings.
PCOS Is Now PMOS. And Honestly? It's About Time.
Something landed in my inbox this morning that stopped me mid sip of tea. PCOS has been officially renamed. As of today, the condition that one in eight women carry, that more than 170 million women worldwide are navigating, is no longer called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It is now Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome. PMOS.
What MSK just published about acupuncture and prostate cancer survivors
JAMA Oncology published a pilot randomized controlled trial out of Memorial Sloan Kettering's Integrative Medicine Service (major props to MSK for their work with cancer AND ACUPUNCTURE). The NOCTURNAL trial. Sixty prostate cancer survivors, mean age seventy two, randomized two to one to either ten weekly acupuncture treatments or a usual care waitlist control. Every participant came in with at least two nocturia episodes per night for the past month. Outcomes were measured with the International Prostate Symptom Score, the validated instrument for this work.
Profound Gratitude
In the years, it took me to build this program and bring it into its current tangible form, I knew it had this potential, but when I look into the eyes of every single practitioner who attends the essence of this medicine becomes real.
Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia affects approximately 7% of American women, yet many suffer for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis. This chronic vulvar pain of unknown origin, lasting at least three months, can devastate intimate relationships and severely impact quality of life. For acupuncturists treating pelvic health conditions, understanding vulvodynia and the growing evidence supporting acupuncture as an effective treatment offers hope to patients who have often exhausted conventional options.
FREE MINI COURSE: PUDENDAL NEURALGIA
At The Pelvic Acu, we’re passionate about teaching Pelvic Health and supporting YOU, our providers, as you bring Pelvic Care as a specialty into your acupuncture practice. That’s why we’ve created these mini courses. This month we are talking about PUDENDAL NEURALGIA.
NEW PUBLICATION: CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN & ACUPUNCTURE
Dr. Krystal Lynn Couture has officially been published in collaboration with Golden Flower Chinese Herbs.
This work brings forward a powerful and much-needed conversation around chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and the role of acupuncture in addressing one of the most complex and underserved conditions in modern healthcare.
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in Pelvic Health
When patients present with a constellation of seemingly unrelated symptoms (skin flushing, digestive issues, pelvic pain, and unexplained reactions to foods or temperature changes), many practitioners find themselves searching for answers. For acupuncturists specializing in pelvic health, understanding Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is becoming increasingly essential to providing comprehensive, effective care.
🎙️ New Podcast Episode: Pelvic Secrets — Unlocking the Hidden Power of Your Core
The Pelvic Act recently had the pleasure of joining Dr. Soma on her podcast Soma Says to talk about one of my favorite topics—pelvic health. Together, we dive deep into the world of the pelvic floor—a part of the body that’s often misunderstood, overlooked, or only talked about in whispers.
Acupuncture and Primary Dysmenorrhea
Primary dysmenorrhea—painful menstrual cramps without underlying pathology—is one of the most common gynecological complaints among women of reproductive age. While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remain the standard first-line treatment, many individuals seek alternative therapies such as acupuncture for symptom relief with fewer side effects. This literature review explores the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of primary dysmenorrhea, comparing outcomes with NSAIDs, sham acupuncture, and no treatment. While research in English is somewhat limited, three relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were reviewed for this discussion.
The Pelvic Bowl: A Window to Source
Published in The Clinician, Vol. 3 Issue 2 (Sept 2025)
We’re thrilled to share that Dr. Krystal Lynn Couture’s article, “The Pelvic Bowl: A Window to Source,” was recently published in The Clinician. This piece explores the pelvic bowl as both a biomechanical foundation and an energetic center—a place where structure, function, and spirit meet.
Conditions We Treat With Pelvic Care
Dr. Krystal discusses the various conditions that can be treated with pelvic care for all genders. She explains that pelvic acupuncture can help with urinary issues such as incontinence, frequency, retention, and recurring infections, as well as rectal conditions like hemorrhoids and constipation.
Pelvic Floor + Pregnancy- AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURE COUNCIL
Dr. Krystal joined the American Acupuncture Council for another exciting episode of TO THE POINT as guest host! She presented: Pelvic Floor and Pregnancy.
PELVIC FLOOR + FERTiLITY- AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURE COUNCIL
Dr. Krystal joined the American Acupuncture Council for another exciting episode of TO THE POINT as guest host! She presented: Pelvic Floor and Fertility
Urinary Pathologies-Defined!
Urinary pathologies affect a large percentage of the population (all genders). And they have a significant impact on quality of life, according to multiple research studies. But, urinary pathology can be hard to talk about. It can feel shameful, embarrassing, guilt provoking and depressing. In addition, with routine medical visits averaging a total of 15 minutes, we can feel rushed and like we have to prioritize our concerns. And, we’re not feeling seen or heard as a client or human being.
Connection between the Low Back and the Pelvic Floor
The low back can have indirect effects on the pelvic floor due to the anatomical and functional connections between these areas. The low back (lumbar region) and pelvic floor are part of the same musculoskeletal and neuromuscular system, and alterations in one region can influence the other. Here’s why Trigger Point Needling (Dry Needling or Ashi Point Needling) of the back impacts the Pelvic Floor: