Definition:
One of the issues that a woman may face when her period is irregular is the possibility of being diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition of PCOS affects women or girls throughout their reproductive years and is caused by hormonal imbalances or family genetics. Especially, during her prenatal, the fetus got passed on with excess androgen (synthetic steroid hormone from the male sex chromosome).
What is PCOS:
PCOS affects women or girls throughout their reproductive years that causes hormonal imbalances and the following conditions would occur:
- Have irregular periods or no periods at all
- Absence or abnormal ovulation cycle
- Have cysts or polycystic on the left, right, or both ovaries (one or many fluid-filled sacs shown in the ultrasound) that cause swelling and pain in the ovary area
- Have signs of hyperandrogenism (Type 2 diabetes)
What are the symptoms of PCOS:
- Inconsistent menstruation:
- Amenorrhea: no menstrual periods
- Oligomenorrhea: missed period frequently
- Very heavy and painful period
- Anovulatory periods: bleeding but no ovulation.
- Experience Hirsutism: a change in physical appearances such as abnormal hair patches in the area like on the face, chest, belly, or upper thighs.
- Change in weight
- Skin condition gets worse, especially, suddenly get severe acne-prone skin.
- Having acanthosis nigricans: having patches of thickened hair with dark and velvety skin.
PCOS and infertility:
PCOS affects women or girls throughout their reproductive years, Due to the absence of ovulation, anovulatory infertility occurs because there are no mature eggs get released during the cycle. Many women find themselves having trouble getting pregant. However, many women experience pain in their pelvis area because they are still bleeding.
Treatments for Infertility Resulting from PCOS
Because PCOS affects women or girls throughout their reproductive years, first many western doctors consider prescription medicine to treat PCOS.
If you have PCOS-related infertility, your health care provider may prescribe one of the following medications to help you get pregnant.
Many of them can be found at Treatments for Infertility Resulting from PCOS | NICHD – Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (nih.gov)
- Clomiphene: infertility treatment of PCOS affects women or girls throughout their reproductive years when clomiphene directly helps the egg to mature and to be released
- Metformin: is a form of insulin-sensitizing medication to treat diabetes. However, Metformin increases the process of ovulation, but it does not guarantee a higher chance of getting pregant. Additionally, Metformin is not an FDA-approved drug that treats PCOS.
- Letrozole helps the body make more ovulation hormone, a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Patients with PCOS affect women or girls throughout their reproductive years and have higher chances of encountering congenital disabilities if they use Letrozole during their pregnancy.
- Gonadotropins: hormone shot that can help with ovulation. This shot is expensive and has to be monitored under close examination by using multiple ultrasound exams and laboratory tests to watch PCOS patients’ bodies that respond to this treatment.
- Ovarian drilling: is a surgery option to treat severe PCOS affects women or girls throughout their reproductive years. It is costly and not recommended.
When PCOS affects women or girls throughout their reproductive years, new lifestyles can help restore the health of ovulation or involve in holistic traditional healthcare can improve pregnancy rates and reduce the pain that is caused by PCOS.
However, prescription medication or surgery can always have side effects. We could always consider having less expensive, lower-risk treatment by using traditional Chinese medicine methods such as acupuncture or taking traditional Chinese herbs.
IVF is also always another option but it is very costly and patients need several attempts for it to work. Many patients have been successful with IVF, however, the chance of getting pregnant for the first time is really low. Only 25% of the women who went through IVF got pregnant in the first trial. Many IVF trial is costly, on the other hand, a session of acupuncture is only $70 or $90.
Getting acupuncture is cost-effective and helps your body to relax. Sometimes, the reason why you are unable to get pregnant is because of the stress hormone blockage, acupuncture helps to reduce the pain from the symptom of PCOS that affects women or girls.
Source:
Polycystic ovary syndrome: OneSearch (uvu.edu)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development – NICHD (nih.gov)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Cause, Symptoms & Treatment (7dmc.ae)
Signs And Symptoms Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – NeoPress
Hyperinsulinemia: Is it diabetes? – Mayo Clinic
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
If you’re looking to receive effective treatment for ANY health condition, we recommend you start looking for a TCM practitioner in your area. If you’re within the state of Utah, don’t hesitate to reach out to Lotus Spring Acupuncture & Wellness to receive the best holistic healthcare and acupuncture treatments.
Dan Clark has years of highly specialized training and experience in the field of acupuncture in Utah. With been in business for over 18+ years, we’re the ones who can give you personalized treatment to help you attain your personal health goals.