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PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one the most common hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age, one report indicates 4-12% of women of reproductive age in US suffer from PCOS.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one the most common hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age, one report indicates 4-12% of women of reproductive age in US suffer from PCOS. PCOS can lead to other serious disorders such as obesity, infertility, diabetes and excessive hair growth (Hirsutism).

Clinically PCOS has a complex manifestation which include:

  • Irregular bleeding (oligomenorrhea)
  • Cessation of menstruation (amenorrhea)
  • Infertility
  • Weight gain
  • Acne and excessive body hair (hirsutism)
  • Male pattern hair loss

Blood tests often reveal a distorted LH/FSH ratio and elevated male hormone (testosterone) which in turn can cause irregular ovulation and infertility. Some patients with POCS present with elevated anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH).

Cause of PCOS

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, PCOS is polygenetic and multifactorial disorder, multiple genes have been associated with PCOS, other factors that contribute to PCOS are:

  • Higher Androgen levels: In PCOS, the GnRH pulsatile frequency is higher than normal, and there is an increased circulating Luteinizing Hormone((LH) and decreased Follicular stimulating Hormone (FSH). High LH cause the theca cells of ovaries to produce more testosterone causing acne, hirsutism, and male pattern hair loss. Low levels of FSH cause anovulation and irregular menstruation, and infertility.
  • Insulin Resistance: Higher Testosterone levels in patients with PCOS causes insulin resistance, higher glucose level, and higher body mass. 
  • Gut Microbiome and PCOS: A large body of studies demonstrated that gut microbiota could regulate the synthesis and secretion of insulin, and affect androgen metabolism and follicle development.
  • Dysbiosis and/or leaky Gut: Gram negative bacteria such as E.coli are at a higher concentration in patients with PCOS, Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which are a component of membrane of these bacteria induce inflammatory response causing low level inflammation. Chronic low level inflammation causes insulin resistance which in turn will cause higher androgen level.

Chinese Herbal Medicine and PCOS

Chinese Medicine physicians have long treated what is now known as PCOS under traditional disease categories such as amenorrhea, irregular cycles, delayed period and abnormal uterine bleeding (beng lou). According to Chinese medicine PCOS is damp/phlegm stagnation with underlying deficiencies, acupuncture and herbal medicine is used to regulate the cycle by normalized the FSH/LH ratio which in turn can lead to normal ovulation.

Studies have demonstrated that acupuncture and Chinese herbal Medicine can be effective in treating PCOS patients by:

Chinese Herbal Medicine has shown to reduce PCOS symptomology including regulating menstrual cycle Normalizing FSH:LH ratio, estradiol, fasting insulin, blood pressure, Improving conception rates and quality of life. This study also showed important statistically significant reductions to women’s depression, anxiety and stress scores.

Functional Medicine is effective in treating PCOS using Nutraceuticals and Herbal medicine to:

  • Lower Insulin level: berberine, alpha lipoic acid
  • Improve insulin resistance: berberine, quercetin
  • Improve ovulation: Inositol
  • Lower Testosterone level: Peony and Licorice Combination, flaxseed
  • Improve body’s detoxification to metabolize and eliminate excess hormones
  • Optimize mitochondrial function: Co-Q 10, L-carnitine

Our Clinic we use Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine and Functional Medicine approach for a natural and effective treatment for PCOS.