From first period to menopause and every transition in between — Dr Christine Shen offers expert Chinese medicine care for North Shore women at every stage of life.
Chinese medicine has supported women’s health for thousands of years — not because it offers simple solutions, but because it offers a genuinely comprehensive framework for understanding the rhythms, cycles and transitions that define female physiology. At Lane Cove Acupuncture, Dr Christine Shen’s approach to women’s health integrates classical TCM theory with contemporary clinical understanding to offer care that is both deeply informed and practically effective.
North Shore women from Lane Cove, Artarmon, Chatswood, Willoughby and Longueville come to the clinic at every life stage. Some arrive managing menstrual conditions that have been poorly addressed by conventional medicine. Some are navigating the emotional and physical complexity of fertility challenges. Some are preparing for or recovering from childbirth. And many are entering perimenopause and menopause with a desire to navigate that transition as consciously and comfortably as possible.
Whatever brings you through the door, Dr Shen will take the time to understand your full picture — your cycle, your history, your constitution and your goals — and build a treatment approach that reflects the whole of your experience, not just your current symptom.
Dr Shen’s women’s health practice spans the full arc of reproductive life and beyond. Here is what she addresses at each stage.
For many North Shore women, menstrual concerns are the first reason they seek Chinese medicine. Painful periods (dysmenorrhoea), irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, premenstrual syndrome and PMDD are among the most common presentations at our Lane Cove clinic — and among the most responsive to Chinese medicine treatment. Dr Shen approaches each presentation by identifying the underlying pattern of imbalance, whether that is Blood stagnation, Qi deficiency, Liver constraint, or one of several other TCM frameworks that map closely onto recognised endocrine and gynaecological mechanisms.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is particularly common among North Shore women in their 20s and 30s, and is an area in which both acupuncture and herbal medicine have demonstrated meaningful support. Treatment aims to regulate the cycle, reduce androgen-driven symptoms (acne, hirsutism, irregular ovulation) and support metabolic health.
Dr Christine Shen has specialised in fertility acupuncture, supporting North Shore couples through natural conception journeys and alongside IVF and IUI cycles. She works collaboratively with reproductive specialists at fertility clinics across Sydney, timing acupuncture treatment around the critical phases of the assisted reproduction cycle to support optimal conditions for implantation and pregnancy.
For couples pursuing natural fertility, Dr Shen’s approach typically involves a minimum three-month protocol addressing egg quality, cycle regulation, uterine lining preparation and, where relevant, sperm quality. Chinese herbal medicine is frequently incorporated alongside acupuncture to enhance the overall hormonal and circulatory environment.
Chinese medicine has a long tradition of supporting women through pregnancy, addressing the physical discomforts that conventional care may not fully treat while avoiding the medications that pregnancy makes problematic. At our Lane Cove clinic, pregnant patients from across the North Shore come for relief from nausea and vomiting in the first trimester, back pain and sciatica as the baby grows, fatigue, heartburn, oedema and sleep difficulties. In the final weeks, treatment can also be directed at supporting optimal foetal positioning and preparing the body for labour.
Dr Shen works within careful safety guidelines for acupuncture in pregnancy. She will always discuss her approach with you and, where appropriate, liaise with your obstetric care team.
The postnatal period is one of the most demanding and frequently under-supported transitions in a woman’s life. Chinese medicine has a rich tradition of postnatal care — what is known in TCM as “mother roasting” — centred on replenishing the resources depleted through pregnancy and birth and building a strong foundation for recovery. For North Shore mothers in Lane Cove and Longueville managing new babies alongside interrupted sleep and the demands of modern family life, this care is particularly valuable.
Dr Shen addresses postnatal fatigue, mood challenges including postnatal depression and anxiety, breastfeeding difficulties, wound healing, and the return of regular menstrual cycles. Herbal medicine is particularly well-suited to postnatal care and is frequently the treatment of choice for the first few weeks when attending a clinic is difficult.
Chinese medicine is one of the most effective integrative approaches for the perimenopause and menopause transition. The North Shore community increasingly includes women in their late 40s and 50s who are actively seeking non-hormonal or complementary approaches to managing the spectrum of menopausal symptoms — hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disruption, mood changes, brain fog, reduced libido, vaginal dryness and bone health concerns.
Dr Shen’s menopause care is grounded in the TCM framework of Kidney Yin and Yang balance, which maps closely onto the hormonal shifts of perimenopause. Both acupuncture and herbal medicine are employed, often in combination, to alleviate specific symptoms and support the longer arc of hormonal transition. This care can be used alongside HRT or as an alternative for women who prefer or require a non-hormonal approach.
A comprehensive (though not exhaustive) reference of women’s health conditions treated with acupuncture and Chinese medicine at our Lane Cove North Shore clinic.
Dr Christine Shen has worked in women’s health Chinese medicine for more than 20 years. Her experience across the full spectrum of reproductive health — from adolescent menstrual concerns to postmenopausal care — is rarely matched in a single North Shore practitioner.
Combining acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and, where relevant, holistic psychotherapy gives Dr Shen a breadth of tools unavailable to practitioners trained in only one modality. Women’s health conditions frequently span the physical, hormonal and emotional — and deserve care that can address all three.
Conveniently located near Lane Cove village with easy access from Artarmon, Chatswood, Willoughby, Longueville and Neutral Bay. Saturday morning appointments are available for women who cannot attend during the working week.
Dr Shen works alongside your GP, gynaecologist, obstetrician or fertility specialist — not in opposition to them. Chinese medicine is most powerful when integrated intelligently into an overall care plan.
Women’s health consultations at Lane Cove Acupuncture are thorough, confidential and designed to give Dr Shen the complete picture she needs to build a precise treatment plan.
Dr Shen will ask about your cycle in detail — length, regularity, flow, pain, clotting, breast tenderness, mood changes around your period, and anything else that feels relevant. She will also cover your general health, sleep, digestion, stress levels and emotional wellbeing. If you have previous test results, scan reports or specialist letters, bring them along.
If you are seeking fertility support or assistance with menstrual regulation, Dr Shen may ask you to begin tracking your basal body temperature and cycle details. This information is invaluable for identifying patterns of imbalance and monitoring treatment response over time.
Tongue observation and pulse diagnosis complete the TCM diagnostic picture. These assessments provide information about your constitutional state, current patterns of excess or deficiency, and the most appropriate treatment direction.
Treatment is typically incorporated into the initial consultation. Dr Shen will explain her findings, outline a suggested treatment plan including frequency and duration, and discuss whether herbal medicine might be an appropriate complement to acupuncture in your case.
Women’s health treatments at Lane Cove Acupuncture follow our standard fee schedule with HICAPS on-site at every visit.
All major health funds accepted via HICAPS — claim your rebate on the spot at every visit:
Rebate amounts vary by fund and policy level. Contact your health fund to confirm your entitlement before your first visit.
Our Lane Cove clinic welcomes women from across the North Shore, including:
