Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(PCOS) in Chinese Medicine

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by mild obesity, irregular menses or amenorrhea, and signs of androgen hormone excess (hirsutism, acne). This endocrine disorder affects 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age. It is also the main cause of infertility and 90% of anovulatory infertility.

Western medicine diagnosis is based in an ultrasound scan looking for multiple small cysts, a blood test to check the androgens level and other clinical manifestations as: Obesity, amenorrhea, infertility, hirsutism and more.

Also PCOS has been closely related to a problem with insulin metabolism. With this condition there is a resistance of cells of body to insulin. The pancreas will make more insulin to compensate this problem, affecting the ovary, preventing ovulation and raising in androgen levels.

Western medicine will treat PCOS with contraceptive pills in order to control the periods, reduce androgens and improve hirsutism. To stimulate ovulation the will use Clomifene citrate or injectable hormones to stimulate the ovary to produce eggs. We have to take in consideration that neither IVF nor ovarian stimulation is likely to be successful if a woman is overweight.

In Chinese medicine we have 4 main patterns:

Damp phlegm. It brakes the normal hormonal function, obstruct the uterus preventing implantation of the ovum and cause ovarian cysts.

Kidney deficiency. It will cause the hormonal imbalance

Blood stasis. It will make the periods painful and also cause the ovarian cysts

Blood deficiency It is the main cause of scanty periods or amenorrhoea and infertility.

Chinese medicine will use acupuncture and herbs to resolve Damp phlegm, tonify the blood and qi in your body, breaks the stagnation of blood allowing its normal flow to the uterus and tonify the kidney to bring back hormone balance.

it’s time to be healthy.

Doctor Mario Marini