Acupuncture Offers Natural Relief for PCOS
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine disorder affecting as many as ten percent of women of childbearing age. I frequently treat PCOS in my Longmont, Colorado clinic. With PCOS the ovaries create many follicles each month without producing an egg. This lack of ovulation makes PCOS one of the most common causes of infertility among women. Other common symptoms of PCOS include missed periods (often for months at a time) or very heavy bleeding. PCOS can also lead to acne and high blood pressure. In some women PCOS can produce elevated androgen hormones levels--including testosterone, resulting in abnormal facial and body hair growth. Some women may develop ovarian cysts and may experience excessive weight gain--despite diet measures and exercise.
The severity of the condition can range from slightly irregular periods to having most or all of the symptoms listed above. Many women discover they have PCOS when trying to become pregnant and discovering they are not ovulating. Western treatment for PCOS can include birth control pills to regulate the cycle, Metformin for insulin resistance, statins for cholesterol and blood pressure medication.
The good news is that acupuncture is an effective treatment for PCOS. Recent research has found acupuncture effective for normalizing hormone levels leading to menstrual regularity, ovulation pattern regularity, and improved overall health. With regard to fertility, research as found that acupuncture with patients who have PCOS resulted in increased pregnancy rates, regulated hormonal secretions, normalized basal body temperature patterns, and increased embryo survival rates.
There are many things that you can do to manage symptoms of PCOS naturally:
If you are overweight a 5-10% reduction in weight can dramatically help regulate cycles.
My patients receive a unique acupuncture protocol designed specifically to address their specific symptoms and health history.
Many women with PCOS have some degree of insulin resistance so it is important to adopt a low glycemic index diet that is based on plenty of vegetables, protein and healthy fats. You must reduce, and ideally eliminate, your intake of refined carbohydrates such as bread and pasta; juices and soda; and sugar. Yes sugar.
Do you have PCOS? Are you ready to restore your hormonal balance? Are you trying to get pregnant and want to ovulate naturally? Call today to schedule your first appointment!