Numerous studies have suggested that acupuncture may reduce pain, aches, tension or stress. Now, a report from the University of Gothenberg, Sweden, has determined that the ancient alternative remedy may partially treat women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

A study published in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism found that four months of acupuncture treatment combined with electrical stimulation reduced the levels of testosterone in women with PCOS by 25 percent.

The syndrome is the most common cause of infertility in women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The authors of the study estimated that PCOS affects 10 percent of women in the United States. The syndrome results in high levels of male hormones, particularly testosterone, making it difficult for a woman to conceive and causing side effects like obesity, acne and irregular menstruation.

The Swedish team found that a low-level electrical current run through acupuncture needles appeared to stimulate muscles in a way similar to exercise. Indeed, groups separately treated with exercise or acupuncture both experienced improvements in weight, testosterone levels, acne and menstrual regularity.

According to Italian physician Plinio Prioresci’s History of Medicine, acupuncture dates to at least the 2nd century BC. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has stated that acupuncture may be effective for treating certain medical conditions, and that further research into the technique is merited.