Have you struggled with very delayed or inconsistent length menstrual cycles for much of your life? Perhaps you also carry more weight than you think you should based on your diet and lifestyle, you have excess hair on your face or chest, and/or you tend towards oily skin or acne. Together, these symptoms may indicate polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affects approximately 5-10% of women in the United States. If you think you may have PCOS, visit your gynecologist for an exam and a discussion to determine whether you fit the criteria.
Addressing PCOS is important for a number of reasons:
- Having irregular or infrequent periods over a long period of time can increase the risk of having endometrial cancer (in part due to high levels of estrogen);
- Women with PCOS are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes;
- Irregular cycles and infrequent ovulation make getting pregnant difficult; and
- PCOS carries increased risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol concerns, cardiovascular disease, strokes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and autoimmune thyroiditis.
Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills (to create regularity with your menstrual cycle), metformin (to provide long-term control of your blood sugar), or other medications to support your health with PCOS.
Chinese medicine, including both acupuncture and herbal medicine, is also quite helpful in supporting the return to a more regular menstrual cycle. Acupuncture helps to restore a stress-free environment to the body, which lowers cortisol (our main stress hormone) and in turn helps to regularize other hormonal systems including those linked with ovulation and reproduction. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbs can assist with digestive function and blood sugar regulation as well.
This approach to balancing hormones, restoring the menstrual cycle, and including dietary modifications to address blood sugar concerns, are important for overall health and decreasing some of the risks associated with PCOS. If you have questions about whether acupuncture and herbal medicine can help you address your PCOS, give me a call to discuss your health!
