What Your Menstrual Cycle Is Trying to Tell You

If your menstrual cycle is irregular, difficult to track, or marked by painful cramps, old stagnant blood, or unpredictable ovulation, these symptoms are more than just monthly annoyances. They may be directly impacting your fertility. A healthy menstrual cycle is the foundation of reproductive health, and any imbalances in your cycle can make it harder to conceive.

Your body is wise, and its first priority is to protect you. When you’re depleted, navigating hormonal imbalances, or lacking proper nourishment, it shifts into survival mode. In these states, the body may temporarily deprioritize reproduction to focus on essential functions.

That’s where Chinese Medicine comes in.

At Mother Moon, we take a holistic approach to fertility by supporting each phase of the menstrual cycle — menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase — with targeted acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle support. This not only helps regulate your cycle but also improves hormone balance, egg quality, and uterine receptivity.

If you’ve been feeling emotionally and physically drained by your fertility journey, you’re not alone. Many people reach a point where they’re ready for a new approach, one that treats the whole person, not just the reproductive organs. Chinese Medicine offers exactly that: a way to restore balance, reduce stress, and improve fertility from the inside out.

What Are the 4 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle?

There are four distinct phases of the menstrual cycle.

Menstruation

This phase begins with the shedding of the endometrial lining. Hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone, are at their lowest. Follicles in the ovaries begin to develop during this time.

Follicular Phase

During this phase, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) encourages the growth of several follicles. One will become dominant and release an egg. Estrogen rises, thickening the uterine lining and prompting the cervix to begin producing fertile cervical mucus.

Ovulation

A surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers the dominant follicle to release an egg. The egg travels down the fallopian tube, and cervical mucus becomes stretchy and clear, helping sperm survive and reach the egg.

Luteal Phase

After ovulation, progesterone rises to maintain the uterine lining in case of implantation. If the egg is fertilized, the resulting embryo will seek a healthy, well-nourished spot to implant. If not, hormone levels drop and the cycle begins again.

How Does Regulating the Menstrual Cycle with Chinese Medicine Optimize Fertility?

When we say “fertility acupuncture,” what we really mean is that we’re working to regulate your menstrual cycle while supporting your overall health and well-being.

Your body knows when it’s strong and nourished enough to sustain a pregnancy. If there are other health issues or imbalances present, energy is diverted to protect vital systems first. This is why we treat the whole person, not just the reproductive system, as part of a comprehensive fertility plan.

Menstruation

We aim to help you have a complete, healthy period. If your period begins with dark, old blood, clots, or pain, we use acupuncture and herbs that invigorate circulation, break up stagnation, reduce pain, and encourage full shedding of the uterine lining. Old stagnant blood, if left untreated, can inhibit implantation in the luteal phase.

Follicular Phase

During this time, we focus on nourishing blood to build a healthy endometrium and support the development of a strong, viable egg. Treatment also supports the production of quality cervical mucus to help facilitate conception. We use acupuncture and herbs to support and improve egg quality, which are an essential part of a healthy full-term pregnancy. Poor egg quality can lead to delayed or missed ovulation, difficulty conceiving, and increased likelihood of miscarriage.

Ovulation

Here, we use acupuncture points and herbs that help move qi and blood smoothly to support the release of the egg and ensure optimal function of the fallopian tubes. Stagnant qi and blood can delay or inhibit ovulation, or may contribute to ectopic pregnancy.

Luteal Phase

In this phase, we focus on maintaining uterine blood flow and building warmth to encourage implantation. Treatment is tailored to support progesterone levels and hold the energy of the uterus to support early pregnancy.

Don’t Forget About the Sperm

Treating the menstrual cycle is only addressing half the picture. When we think of optimizing fertility, the focus often lays disproportionately on the female body and we can lose sight of the important role sperm plays in not only conception, but carrying pregnancies to term.

Low sperm count and poor sperm quality can make it difficult to conceive and are a major factor in many fertility struggles. Poor sperm health also increases the risk of miscarriage and can affect embryo development.

Passing on our best genetics means improving both egg and sperm quality before conception. Chinese Medicine plays an important role in this. Acupuncture and herbal medicine, alongside nutrition and lifestyle support, work to improve sperm parameters like count, motility, and morphology. Because sperm regenerate in 90-day cycles, targeted support in the months leading up to conception can make a significant difference.

How Does Pregnancy Occur and What Do PMS Symptoms Have to Do With It?

Pregnancy begins when sperm meets egg, usually in the fallopian tube. If fertilization occurs, the resulting embryo becomes a rapidly dividing cluster of cells called a blastocyst. This blastocyst travels into the uterus and implants into the uterine lining, beginning a pregnancy.

Conceiving and carrying a healthy pregnancy takes more than just healthy sperm and eggs. Your body also needs a balanced cycle and a nourished, receptive uterus to support implantation and early development.

PMS symptoms, period pain, irregular cycles, or lack of ovulation all suggest hormonal imbalance or underlying issues that may be preventing conception. Chinese Medicine addresses these symptoms at their root by regulating hormones, supporting egg quality, improving uterine health, and calming the nervous system. All of these are essential for fertility.

You Deserve to Live in a Healthy Body

PMS, pain, and irregular cycles are common, but they’re not normal. You don’t have to live with them.

Chinese Medicine can help treat and often eliminate many of these symptoms by addressing the root imbalance. Our goal is to help you enjoy your cycle rather than dread it. Whether you’re trying to conceive now or thinking about your future fertility, regulating your menstrual cycle lays the foundation for optimal fertility and lifelong hormonal health.

The Mother Moon Approach to Care

Comprehensive Intake

We begin with a detailed health history, including a thorough discussion of your cycle. We’ll look at the color and quality of your bleeding, how heavy it is, whether there’s clotting or pain, signs of ovulation, and PMS symptoms. We also explore sleep, digestion, mood, and more. You’ll receive an acupuncture treatment at this first visit.

Report of Findings Visit

This second visit includes a full explanation of your Chinese Medicine diagnosis. We’ll review how your symptoms fit together to reveal patterns of imbalance. Then we’ll create an individualized treatment plan that includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, supplements, dietary recommendations (Chinese food therapy), and lifestyle shifts. This visit also includes an acupuncture session.

Ongoing Treatments

With regular treatments, dietary changes, and personalized support, most patients begin noticing significant improvement in three to four cycles. Our goal is lasting hormonal balance and a healthier, more predictable cycle that supports both fertility and overall well-being.

Ready to Start Feeling Better?

You don’t have to live with painful periods, unpredictable cycles, or hormonal highs and lows. Whether you’re actively trying to conceive or simply want to improve your health, regulating your menstrual cycle is possible. We’d love to support you on that journey.

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Meghan Berg is a Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist, Hormone Health and Fertility Expert, and the founder of Mother Moon Acupuncture, which is located in Minneapolis, MN. She has been treating patients since 2007.