Meta-Analysis: Acupuncture Reduces Anxiety and Depression in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, affecting 8–13% of the global female population. Beyond the hormonal and metabolic manifestations — menstrual irregularity, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance — PCOS is frequently accompanied by anxiety and depression, with prevalence up to three times higher than in the general population. A meta-analysis published in January 2026 in Frontiers in Medicine systematically evaluated the effect of acupuncture on these emotional symptoms in women with PCOS.

Mechanisms beyond direct effect on mood

The studies included in the meta-analysis also documented improvement in free testosterone levels, body mass index, and waist–hip ratio — all relevant markers in PCOS. This constellation of effects suggests that acupuncture may act on multiple axes — possible reduction of hyperandrogenism, modulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis, and regulation of neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine), all implicated in the mechanisms of anxiety and depression in PCOS.

The safety profile was favorable: adverse events were rare, mild, and transient, with no reports of serious effects attributed to acupuncture. The authors acknowledge methodological limitations — heterogeneity across treatment protocols and incomplete reporting of adverse events in some studies — and recommend larger-scale RCTs. Even só, the consistency of benefits in 12 independent trials with more than two thousand participants constitutes a solid basis for considering medical acupuncture as an adjuvant in the integral management of PCOS.