Acupuncture and PCOS

Name: Dr Vitalis Acupuncture Auckland
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Polycystic ovary syndrome affects up to 15% of women in reproductive age. Acupuncture combined with lifestyle changes offers hope to successfully address one of the possible root causes of the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Increased Sympathetic Activity – The Core Cause of PCOS?

What exactly causes PCOS is unknown. There is no one specific PCOS gene, but we know that daughters of PCOS women are five times more likely to develop the condition.

Here we will look into possible causes, why PCOS acupuncture successfully restores ovulation and regulates cycles. And why it is crucial to address this complex condition before getting pregnant.

The “bible” on infertility treatments, Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, says “The characteristic of polycystic ovary develops when a chronic anovulatory state persists for a sufficient length of time.”

The cause of anovulation in PCOS is multifactorial. A combination of genetic, lifestyle, hormonal factors are at play.

A study published in Nature magazine in 2008 gave a new perspective on how we see the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Swedish researchers, who conducted the study, discovered that the sympathetic nervous system is hyperactive in PCOS women. And most noteworthy, sympathetic hyperactivity may precede anovulation and may kickstart the vicious PCOS cycle of increased testosterone, insulin resistance, weight gain, anovulation.

By reducing sympathetic hyperactivity and helping your body to regulate sugars, acupuncture can reverse some of the harm done by this complex condition. This includes restoring regular ovulation, decreasing androgen levels, normalising ovarian blood flow and the function of the HPO axis.

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When done correctly, acupuncture can restore normal ovulation, decrease ovarian cysts and ovarian size in PCOS patients.

How Acupuncture Helps Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Studies documented Acupuncture to

increase blood flow to the ovaries
reduce of ovarian volume and the number of ovarian cysts
control hyperglycaemia through increasing insulin sensitivity and regulating blood glucose and insulin levels
reduce cortisol levels and assisting in weight loss or anorexia
reduce testosterone levels and regulating oestrogen cycles to normalise ovulation
reduce sympathetic nervous system drive
increase menstrual frequency by 38%
reduce the sympathetic nervous outflow

To fully understand the effect of acupuncture on PCOS we do need more research.

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Causes of PCOS

The excess levels of “male hormones” – androgens. This is the central feature of PCOS. Female to male transexuals consume anrdogens to develop male features. This excess androgen levels can result in PCOS.
Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance – excess insulin levels in your blood increase the risk of PCOS. 25-50% of women with PCOS have no insulin resistance. Among women with insulin resistance, the incidence of PCOS is low. Nonetheless, these are the key factors and are cause of hyperandrogenism in some women.
Increased sympathetic nervous activity. This may be the primary or causing factor of PCOS syndrome. Many of the features of PCOS, such as hyperinsulinaemia, central obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea are all associated with chronic sympathetic nervous system overactivity

Both increased androgens and hyperinsulinemia very likely are playing a role in causing PCOS. However, increased sympathetic activity may be preceding these changes.

Features

Hyperandrogenism results mostly from excess androgen production in the ovaries.
Insulin resistance
Elevated androgen levels. The excess androgen is mostly produced by ovaries. The common signs are hirsutism (excessive hair), acne, hair loss. Androgens affect the ovaries and pituitary ovarian axis.
Hyperinsulinemia
Central obesity is not an essential feature of PCOS. It adds to pathophysiology by aggravating insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Risks

PCOS is associated with health risks. Some of these risks are long term:

Infertility
Diabetes: Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes
Increased risk of metabolic syndrome
Increased blood pressure
Uterine cancer
Reduced health related quality of life
Increased risk of dyslipidaemia (abnormal amount of cholesterol and/or fat in the blood)
Premature cardiovascular disease
PCOS-associated morbidities in menopause
Increased risk of gestational diabetes and other complications in pregnancy

It is important to diagnose and address PCOS early on, so that you can minimise any further damage to your health.

Treatment

Acupuncture and herbal medicine

Acupuncture has been shown to benefit PCOS in numerous studies. It seems to be especially effective with women who do not have significant weight gain. However, even patients with high body mass index will benefit from acupuncture, it just takes a little longer.

Pharmaceutical treatment

Current pharmaceutical treatment options are symptom oriented and, although effective, can have severe metabolic and gastrointestinal side effects. Treatment of infertility will often result in multiple pregnancies.

Available pharmaceutical options include:

1. Treatment with Estrogen-progestin contraceptive pill or with exogenous Estrogen and Progesterone (slows LH pulse)

2. GnRH antagonist decreases both LH and testosterone concentrations acutely

Lifestyle

Will acupuncture help you?

Whether you’re trying for a baby, or interested in addressing PCOS symptoms, contact us to discuss how we can help. If we don’t respond immediately, we may be busy with patients. But rest assured, we will get back to you as soon as we can!

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Acupuncture for PCOS is More Effective When Combined with Herbs

A systematic review published in June 2014 found combining herbs with acupuncture to be even more successful acupuncture alone. They documented this combination of natural treatments helps women suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome by reducing:

luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone
insulin resistance

testosterone
body mass index

Acupuncture and IVF

Acupuncture can play an important role when you’re trying to conceive with In Vitro Fertilisation. It has been shown to double the IVF success rates, reduce the risk of miscarriage in some studies.

Reproductive acupuncture success stories

Dr. Birdsall called our first baby “a miracle”