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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

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The Small But Crucial Changes in the Fight Against PCOS

Concept polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS. Paper art, awareness of PCOS, image of the female reproductive system

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the number one cause of ovulatory infertility in the world. Not all PCOS women are infertility but it is reported that 70-80% are impacted when it comes to their reproductive health. Fertility issues represent a large number of clients who come to Enliven Health andWellness and there is so much more to the picture when it comes to optimal fertility and long term health for the PCOS woman.

The Staffering Statistics in PCOS Women

  • Your risk of a heart attack is 7.4 times more women your age who don’t have PCOS.
  • You are more likely to have a hysterectomy.
  • You are more at risk for endometrial cancer compared to your non-PCOS counterparts.
  • You are 10 times more likely to have sleep apnea, which is associated with being overweight mood issues and poor mental functions
  • You are more likely to have a pre term birth.
  • You are more likely to have blood sugar issues
  • You are more likely to be infertile.
  • If you do get pregnant you have a increased risk for spontaneous miscarriages, gestational diabetes, under development or overdevelopment of your child for it’s gestational age and high blood pressure.
  • What is even more discouraging is that your children, especially girls are at increased risk for a multitude of disease. You daughters are 5 times more likely to develop PCOS and more likely to have miscarriages. Your children are more likely to have anxiety like behavior due to the exposure of elevated testosterone in the womb and are more likely to develop diabetes. What research is now showing is that the grandchild of the PCOS women is at a greater risk for obesity.

Not Every PCOS Case is the Same

There are two main type of presentations in a PCOS woman. One women has high levels of androgen hormones in relationship to her estrogen and progesterone. She is the lean athletic type. Often a star athlete in school. The other presentation is the women who is round, soft and often tired. She loves sugar and often we see these ladies using it to keep their energy up because they are just so tired.

No matter the type, it is still a metabolic issue and whether you are skinny and athletic or soft and round it leaves you and your potential off spring at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, obesity and infertility.

Though there are two major presentation PCOS is a “syndrome” meaning it presents differently in each women. So there are a multitude of sub types. Some women have hirsutism which is excessive hair growth that is often corse and dark on the face, abdomen and sometimes nipples. It’s associated with high androgens.

While some women who have high androgens may have cystic acne on their face, chest or back. Some women will ovulate, some won’t. While others have the “ring of pearls” on their ovaries. This is what your ovaries look like on a ultra sound. On the ultra sound you see many undeveloped follicles on the outer surface of the ovary making it look like a ring of pearls. And then other women have completely normal looking ovaries even as they have the diagnosis of PCOS.

Traditionally to have a positive diagnosis you must have 2 out of 3 of the following symptoms: elevated androgen, irregular periods or polycystic ovaries. But even if you only have one of these, along with a number of other odd but not uncommon symptoms, you could be diagnosed with a PCOS-like presentation. Meaning you are beginning to show a metabolic issues that has yet developed into a full blown PCOS condition.

How to Change Metabolic Issues

I won’t try to say it is an easy change. It takes coming from multiple directions: diet, lifestyle, supplements, herbs and acupuncture. Together they all help achieve your goal and bring you and your future family to optimal health. And it is doable. Sometimes after a pregnancy your whole system gets a hormonal reset. Other times pregnancy brings on a PCOS presentation. But what we do know is that you can reduce your risks by making changes. We start with baby steps and integrate then add on. Or be more aggressive in your changes as you decide. The important point is that small changes can have big pay offs and it is achievable.

Acupuncture Can Help

Blood sugar dysregulation is one of the most common issues in PCOS. In a 2017 study in the FASEB journal reported that metabolic changes were seen in PCOS patients after only one electro stimulation acupuncture session. There were measurable improvements in the subjects blood sugar and a reduction in their insulin resistance in just that one treatment.

Further they found that there were changes in the DNA methylation and gene expression in fat tissues that mimicked a single bout of exercise. This is especially important for women who cant exercise due to physical constraints. With fertility acupuncture on your team we can address PCOS earlier and have an impact on these long term disease risks. It is a powerful tool along with diet, exercise and supplements.

Photo Credits: Susan Wilkinson Paola Chaaya ,Alma ThaI

 

Bethany Richardson is the owner of Enliven Health and Wellness located in Hudson, New York. She is a fellow with the Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine. (FABORM.) To book an appointment, click here. If you live outside Hudson, NY, you can book a Telehealth fertility appointment. We go over your lab results and create a diet, supplement, lifestyle and herbal regimen to regulate and optimize your fertility.