Exercise and acupuncture could provide an alternative for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that can increase insulin tolerance and cause blood sugar issues.

PCOS is an endocrine disorder that can lead to menstrual cycle difficulties and infertility because of hormone imbalances.

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden administered the treatments to 20 women over four months, with electrically stimulated acupuncture offered to one group and a second group that exercised between 90 and 135 minutes each week.

The acupuncture group had more regular menstrual cycles, according to the study’s findings, as well as lower testosterone levels and a smaller waist size.

Women who exercised lost weight compared to a control group, and the scientists say that both treatments could represent alternatives to prescription drugs given for the condition.

"Both therapies decreased measures of obesity" that can cause cardiovascular problems, noted the study’s authors, though they recommend further research to substantiate their findings.

The National Institutes of Health estimate that the condition affects 5 to 10 percent of women aged 18-44.