Needle work

JANET FEARN has always been an active woman who loves to get out and about. In her work as a freelance entertainment manager, she's had to be. So when at the beginning of this year she began to suffer heavy periods, she felt as if her life had been turned upside down.

By July, she was bleeding heavily five days out of every 14. This left her wiped out and drained to the point where, on some days, she'd get up at 9am and have to go back to bed a couple of hours later.

There was also the sheer inconvenience of not being able to go out. "I couldn't wear anything nice to go out for the evening if it was at all light coloured," she said.

It even began to affect her work, to the point where she was scheduling meetings around her periods. "It was controlling my whole life," she said. "It totally depressed me."

The 43-year-old, from Acomb, tried HRT but without result. In desperation, she turned to acupuncture, which she had tried before, with good results, for back and shoulder pain.

The results this time were no less astonishing.

Within two weeks of beginning treatment, the frequency of her periods had begun to reduce - and within two months, she was almost back to normal. "This last month I went 30 days," she said. "It's been a godsend, an absolute godsend. I can't say I didn't expect it to help, but I hadn't expected such benefits so quickly."

Janet is not alone in discovering just how effective acupuncture can be for the treatment of period problems. A pioneering new study in York - involving the Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, alongside research staff from the universities of York and Sheffield - aims to assess the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture for women with period problems.

Already, 12 women have signed up for the year-long trial, and researchers are looking to recruit 28 more. Half of the 40 women in the trial will be offered acupuncture - treatment will be provided by three of the city's many experienced practitioners - while the other half will act as a 'control'. The women's progress over the next 12 months will be closely monitored.

It is the first such study of its kind in the country and it could be the first step towards getting the treatment properly recognised and available free on the NHS.

"We know from previous research that acupuncture has quite a profound effect on the female endocrine system, and that it regulates the production of hormones through the menstrual cycle," said Alison Gamon, of the University of York's Department of Health Sciences. "But there is a definite need for more research evidence."

Being able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of mainstream health professionals that acupuncture really does work is important. Heavy periods are the most common cause of anaemia in the Western World, Alison says - as well as causing loss of self confidence and leading some women to feel trapped in their homes for fear of heavy bleeding if they go out.

Many women don't want to go down the route of having a hysterectomy, she says - but are unaware of the alternatives available. "So we're responding to the fact that there is a need for more supportive and effective treatment options."

One woman who balked at the idea of an operation - even though her two sisters had hysterectomies - is 'Christine', a 47-year-old local authority worker from York.

At the beginning of this year, her periods came more and more frequently - until she had three in six weeks. This left her drained, constantly tired and light-headed. But she didn't want a hysterectomy.

"There are other ways that the body can heal itself rather than having to be opened up. Why should we have to cut bits out?" she said.

Christine, too, joined the trial - and after three months of treatment is already seeing the benefits. She has had no more heavy bleeding and the length of time between periods has gradually increased, from just 20 days when she began to 25 now.

She also feels she has far more energy than before.

"My husband has noticed I have a lot more energy," she said. "I hadn't realised it, but I think I had probably been going downhill gradually for some time."

Acupuncturist Hugh MacPherson, of the York Clinic of Complementary Medicine in Tadcaster Road, is one of the three practitioners providing treatment for women taking part in the study. He said many women with heavy periods simply assumed there was little that could be done. He hopes the trial will raise awareness about how effective acupuncture can be.

"A lot of women who have problems with heavy periods don't think they can get much help," he said. "They're not aware of what acupuncture can do."

Pam Emmett is one woman who was just putting up with her monthly heavy periods, because she didn't realise she had any choice. The 44 year old from Osbaldwick suffers terrible abdominal pain, bleeds heavily, feels relentlessly tired and run down, and becomes intolerant and tetchy with her family and friends.

"But I just thought that heavy periods month in and month out were my lot in life," she said. "I knew what I was suffering wasn't normal but I thought there was nothing I could do about it."

That was until she signed up for the trial. She has had two acupuncture sessions so far. The therapist inserts fibre-fine needles into Pam's wrists, stomach and ankles - all pressure points with direct links to the abdomen and ovaries - and lays hands on problem areas to try to bring a much-needed balance to her body.

While it is too early to record any positive results yet, Pam is quietly confident that it will help.

"To be honest with you, at the moment I'm enjoying the fact that I have someone to talk over my problems with; that in itself is very therapeutic," she said. "I don't know whether the acupuncture is actually working yet, but I'm certainly more relaxed at the end of the sessions."

In common with other women taking part, she is not fazed by the tiny needles.

"I have had to put my normal life on hold for two weeks a month for as long as I can remember," she said. "If it takes sticking needles into my ankles to put things right, it's worth it."

Researchers are still looking for women who suffer from heavy periods to take part in the study. If you are interested, contact Alison Gamon on 01904 781630 or talk to your doctor.