Women often find out about Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) when they visit the gynaecologist due to an irregular period or when they have failed to get pregnant after trying for more than a year.
PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. Women with PCOS have hormonal imbalances and metabolism problems that may affect their overall health and appearance. PCOS is also a common and treatable cause of infertility.
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is distinguished by Syndrome differentiation, which has a long history and unique advantages in the treatment of gynecological disorders by employing acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Once you suspect or have been diagnosed with PCOS, it is important to talk to your gynaecologist or our physicians at TCM clinics in Dubai to discuss your treatment options.
What is PCOS ?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common health problem caused by an imbalance of a woman’s reproductive hormones, which can create problems in the ovaries. The ovaries make the egg that is released each month as part of a healthy menstrual cycle. With PCOS, the egg may not develop as it should or it may not be released during ovulation as it should be, which is one of the main reasons that affects women who are in the age to get pregnant.
The exact cause of PCOS is not known. Most experts think that several factors are associated with PCOS, including genetics, high levels of androgens, and Insulin. The prevailing view of the reason is that it is related to hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels) and insulin resistance.
Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
The most common signs and symptoms of PCOS include:
- Irregular periods: Abnormal menstruation involves missing periods or not having a period at all. It may also involve heavy bleeding during periods.
- Infertility: PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in people AFAB. Not ovulating regularly or frequently can result in not being able to conceive.
- Hirsutism: You may grow excess facial hair or experience heavy hair growth on your arms, chest and abdomen (hirsutism). This affects up to 70% of people with PCOS.
- Obesity: Between 40% and 80% of people with PCOS have obesity and have trouble maintaining a weight that’s healthy for them.
- Hair loss: People with PCOS may lose patches of hair on their head or start to bald.
- Acne: PCOS can cause acne, especially on your back, chest and face. This acne may continue past your teenage years and may be difficult to treat.
PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of developing health problems in later life, such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol levels.
How will TCM help PCOS?
From the perspective of TCM, the main factors contributing to PCOS are the dysfunction of the Kidney, Liver, and Spleen. TCM primarily focuses on regulating hormonal imbalances and promoting ovulation through nourishing the Kidney and promoting blood circulation.
For those who are trying to get pregnant, TCM can help improve ovarian activity, uterine blood flow, and support ovulation and fertilization through the following methods:
- Tonifying the Kidney organ that is in charge of the reproductive system;
- Strengthening the Spleen to remove excess dampness in the body;
- Moving Blood and Qi to ensure optimal nutrients and oxygen are being transported to the egg.
For overweight type of PCOS, they tend to store more dampness, which is what we know as “fat”. By boosting the Spleen Yang Qi and complying with a healthy diet and lifestyle, TCM can assist in optimizing metabolism and steady weight loss.
For thin-type PCOS, they tend to be more Blood or Yin deficient, hence the treatment will be geared towards nourishing the Blood and Yin. If stress is the contributing factor to irregular menses, acupuncture points and herbs that invigorate the smooth flow of Liver Qi will be added.
TCM’s advantages in treating PCOS-related infertility
There are significant advantages to treating PCOS with TCM. By using a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine, it can:
- Improve the ovulation rate and pregnancy rate of PCOS-related infertility, while reducing the incidence of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).
- Treat both PCOSand infertility simultaneously. Once pregnancy occurs, the growth of cysts will be inhibited under the influence of pregnancy hormones.
Herbal Remedies for PCOS
In the treatment of infertility with PCOS, it formulates individualized treatment plans from a holistic perspective by taking into account the different constitutions among patients. Common herbal formulas that are prescribed in TCM clinics are Jia Wei Xiao Yao San, Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan andDang Gui Shao Yao San. Jia Wei Xiao Yao San is a prescription commonly given to relieve symptoms of stress induced menstrual problems and is also found effective for breast cancer treatments. While the roles of the latter formulas are to remove blood stasis during menstruations and treat ovulatory disorders, respectively.
Kidney-tonifying herbal medicine is believed to have endocrine-like effects and can exert a bidirectional regulatory effect on the female gonadal axis. By combining kidney-tonifying and blood-activating herbs, it can improve the local blood circulation in the ovaries, increase ovarian blood flow, promote follicular development, induce ovulation, and facilitate the formation of the corpus luteum. This has been extensively confirmed in both clinical and experimental studies of both Chinese and Western medicine.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been gaining acceptance among therapists and gynaecologists as a treatment for fertility. It can improve pregnancy rates by regulating hormone levels, stimulating follicle and endometrial growth, and promoting follicle discharge. It also has a positive regulatory and improvement effect on the adverse reactions caused by Clomiphene.
It involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on your body (acupoints) to help alleviate pain, unblock energy, and increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, thereby restoring balance to the body and boosting fertility in the process. The acupoints frequently used in the treatment of PCOS-related infertility include Guanyuan, Zhongjie, Sanyinjiao, Zusanli, Zigong and Shenyu.
Weekly acupuncture sessions at TCM clinics is reported to improve ovulation in women with PCOS, improve BMI, reduce the levels of LH, estradiol and testosterone, increase ovulation reaction, and effectively shorten menstrual cycles in women with PCOS.
There are plenty of reasons that you can choose TCM for the treatment of infertility, such as its safety, low cost, effectiveness, and convenience.
Our physiciants at (TCM) clinics in Dubai have mastered tailoring treatments according to a patient’s case. We offer unique fertility treatment plans because we look into your medical history, lifestyle, and goals.
We understand that parenthood may not be easy for all the couples, and we are here to support you. Feel free to contact our clinics, and we are happy to assist you.
