More than 10 years ago, when people heard the term polycystic ovarian syndrome/PCOS, the textbook picture looked like:
obesity
excessive hair growth/hirsutism
hair loss
acne/cystic acne
anovulation
amenorrhea/long cycles
infertility
Today, we know that PCOS is not so textbook after all.
PCOS impacts women of all sizes. What’s happening (and goes beyond weight gain or weight loss) is that the body has higher levels of insulin and/or androgen, due to genetics or other lifestyle factors.
PCOS is incredibly common. It’s estimated that every 1 in 10 women has PCOS, which actually makes it one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age.
Many women don’t even realize that they have it. According to the PCOS Foundation, less than half of all women with PCOS are actually diagnosed correctly, meaning that millions of women are potentially unaware of their condition.
PCOS red flags or possible indicators of hormonal imbalance:
acne
irregular cycles/amenorrhea/ or amenorrhea post birth control
late ovulation or anovulation
hair loss
irregular/low body temperature
excessive bloating
PCOS is treatable with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Understanding the root cause of disharmony in the body is key to treating infertility and hormone imbalance.
In order to conceive naturally it is essential to reestablish proper communication within the body by removing stasis and fostering proper blood flow to the uterus and ovaries- thus leading to menstrual cycle regulation and timely ovulation.
The Nest treatment plan for PCOS:
We have seen PCOS patients respond beautifully to regular acupuncture treatment, dietary changes, Chinese herbal medicine, and dietary supplements- especially myo-inositol, n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), vitamin D, and COQ10, to name a few.
Also, incorporating infrared red light therapy helps lower inflammation and increase blood flow/microcirculation.
We take a comprehensive approach with each of our patients and guide them with personalized recommendations throughout their fertility journey.
PATIENT STORY:
In 2015, Tameeka came to me for help with her PCOS. She was terrified of needles, but she wanted to get her cycle back on track and conceive naturally.
She came weekly (all the way from Hyde Park!) for appointments and her cycles drastically improved.
Within less than a year, she was able to conceive naturally (no IVF or meds), and in 2017 she welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world at almost 40 years old!
This story still makes me so happy (you can read all of it on Yelp), and it's an amazing example of overcoming PCOS to have a natural pregnancy.
If you want support with PCOS - whether it's to manage pain or conceive naturally - you can book an appointment at The Nest for an intitial consultation.
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