Efficacy and Safety of Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Obesity Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis.

If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and struggle with weight, you may already know how closely the two are connected. Excess weight can make PCOS symptoms worse, affecting hormones, metabolism, and fertility. Researchers recently looked at a traditional Chinese medicine technique called acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) to see whether it could help women with PCOS manage their weight more effectively.

ACE involves placing tiny, dissolvable threads (called catgut) just beneath the skin at specific acupuncture points. These threads slowly dissolve over days to weeks, providing a longer-lasting stimulation than a standard acupuncture needle session.

The research team analyzed 25 clinical trials involving 1,663 women with PCOS-related obesity. They found that ACE, when added to standard care, likely reduced body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and waist circumference compared to no additional treatment. Importantly, women receiving ACE were about 33% more likely to achieve a meaningful weight loss of at least 5% of their body weight — a threshold known to improve PCOS symptoms. ACE also appeared to lower triglyceride levels, a key marker of metabolic health.

When compared head-to-head with other active treatments, ACE performed at least as well — and sometimes better — while also showing fewer side effects.

These are encouraging findings, though the researchers note that all the studies took place in China, so more research in diverse populations is needed before drawing firm global conclusions. The overall quality of evidence was rated low to moderate, meaning larger, higher-quality trials are still needed.

For women with PCOS exploring complementary approaches to weight management, ACE represents a promising option worth discussing with your healthcare team. Always seek treatment from a licensed, qualified acupuncture practitioner experienced in treating hormonal and metabolic conditions.

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 RCTs (n = 1,663) evaluated acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) for obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Using random-effects models and GRADE certainty ratings, authors found that ACE added to usual care significantly reduced BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference (WC) versus blank treatment, and increased the likelihood of achieving ≥5% weight loss (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.15–1.55). Triglyceride reduction was also observed. Against active comparators, ACE demonstrated superior rates of ≥5% weight loss (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.11–1.76), reduced WC, and showed a favorable adverse-event profile. Evidence certainty was rated low to moderate throughout. Clinically, ACE may offer additive benefit for metabolic and reproductive outcomes in PCOS patients when integrated into a multimodal weight management protocol. Generalizability is currently limited, as all included trials were conducted in China.