PCOS

PCOS

 is one of the most common problems affecting female fertility. At the clinic we treat PCOS, with a combination of Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Diet and Lifestyle Changes.

http://www.womenshealthclinic.ie/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos.html?gclid=CJnUrPbg67ECFVRc4QodFgsAuw

PCOS is a hormonal imbalance found in women which causes a variety of problems including infertility, menstrual problems, heart disease and diabetes. It is seen in approximately 5-10% of all women. PCOS appears to run in families. It is quite common to finds that a patient with PCOS has a sister or mother with a similar clinical picture.

What are the common symptoms/associated problems?

• Infrequent or absent periods
• Acne
• Excessive dark hair growth on the face, back stomach, thumbs or toes
• Weight gain or obesity
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes

PCOS causes the associated problems because polycystic ovaries are unable to produce the normal levels of hormones required to release one egg at ovulation each month. Multiple cysts start to develop as normal at the beginning of the cycle, but none of them reach the critical size needed for ovulation. Therefore progesterone is not produced and a bleed does not occur. The cysts formed also produce excessive amounts of male hormone.

PCOS is diagnosed in different ways. Your doctor will take a medical history and perform an examination. She will check your blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI). A pelvic ultrasound may be indicated. Blood test to determine male hormone levels, as well as fasting cholesterol and blood glucose may be required.

Treatment of PCOS

There is no cure for PCOS, and there is no one treatment plan for PCOS. The appropriate treatment depends on what the patients goal is – control of symptoms, optimising your fertility or prevention of diabetes and heart disease.

Lifestyle changes

Obesity is commonly associated with PCOS. Alteration of the diet and exercise are vital parts of trying to tackle this difficult problem. Processed foods and high sugar content foods should be replaced with whole grain foods, fruit and vegetables, and lean meat and fish. This reduces blood glucose levels and improves the way the body handles insulin, reducing male hormone levels. Research has shown that even a 5-10% reduction in body weight can restore regular periods and therefore ovulation.

Other health problems associated with PCOS

Women with PCOS have greater chances of developing certain serious diseases than women without PCOS

• 50% of women with PCOS will have developed diabetes or pre-diabetes before 40 years of age
• Women with PCOS are 5 times more likely to develop heart disease
• They are more likely to have high cholesterol
• They are more likely to have high blood pressure
• The risk of cancer of the womb is greatly increased in women who are not having periods due to the imbalance of hormones brought about by PCOS

http://www.womenshealthclinic.ie/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos.html?gclid=CMu0x_Ps6q0CFQFC4Qodinm-6A

Diet is one of the key elements in the fight against PCOS.

 Carbohydrates

Choose low-GI whole-grain starches (dense wholegrain breads, brown rice, basmati rice, wholewheat pasta, noodles, sweet potatoes) rather than refined or processed starches (white bread, white rice, white pasta, potatoes) and whole fruit rather than fruit juice. Higher fiber foods (especially foods rich in soluble fiber) cause a slower rise in blood-sugar. For example, 1/2 cup of All Bran (10 grams of fiber) is better than cornflakes (1 gram fiber). An apple (4 grams of fiber) is better than apple juice which contains no fiber. Best sources of soluble fiber include apples, oats and beans.

Eat plenty of vegetables and beans. Not only are veggies packed with micronutrients like vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, they are low in calories and (usually) have a very low GI value.
If possible, combine some fat and protein with the carbohydrate (starch or fruit). This will slow the rise of blood sugar from the carbohydrate. For example, eat toast with two teaspoons of peanut butter rather than toast with jam.

Choose lower-GI snacks. Instead of donuts, muffins, cakes, cookies, candy, sweets, jams, regular sodas, sugar and honey, switch to snack-foods like: fresh fruit, chopped veggies, sourdough muffins, oatmeal cookies, banana, bowl of All-Bran, low-fat yogurt, unsweetened canned fruit, nuts and seeds, dried fruit, baked tortilla chips and salsa, hummus, wholewheat pita with salad and light mayonnaise, and water.

 Fats

The healthiest fats/oils come from UNREFINED vegetable sources or oily fish.

• For cooking, choose extra virgin olive oil
• For salads, choose from flax oil, canola oil, soy oil, extra virgin olive oil, wheatgerm oil, walnut oil or hemp seed oil.
• Eat regular helpings of oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, tuna.

[Note: Flax seed oil, hemp seed oil, canola oil and oily fish are great sources of one of the key essential fatty acids, omega-3. This type of fat is good for heart health and weight reduction, and offers a range of other metabolic health benefits.]

If you want to reduce weight, a good type of oil to use in cooking is a "Fat-Spray." Fat-sprays typically provide 1 calorie, per spray/squirt. This compares with 120 calories per tablespoon of regular cooking oil.

 Proteins

Protein is found in many foods, but the best type of protein is low in saturated fat. Good protein choices include: fish, lean beef, lean ham, egg whites, whole eggs, chicken breast, turkey breast, pulses, beans, nuts, seeds, soy products and vegetarian protein foods such as quorn and seitan.

 Exercise

Regular physical exercise is essential for any weight reduction plan, and is especially important for all PCOS patients. Studies show that regular aerobic exercise workouts benefit insulin resistance as well as a range of health indicators like serum cholesterol, blood pressure and cardiovascular function. Weight or strength training improves insulin resistance and metabolic rate. All these benefits impact on polycystic ovary syndrome. For optimum benefit, take 30-60 minutes combined exercise on most days.

http://www.annecollins.com/low-gi-diet-for-pcos.htm

What can Acupuncture and TCM do?

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are designed to stimulate the body’s own natural production of hormones and regulate the menstrual cycle by gently correcting underlying deficiencies and/or eliminating disruptions. For example, when applied they can

1. restore reproductive energy in the kidney system which represents the reproductive endocrine system to normalize the production of hormones that regulate ovulation.
2. balance the liver system which controls smooth flow and distribution of blood to remove obstruction or constriction of blood circulation in the pelvic organs, which might be caused from living with high stress, consistent anger, frustration and/or anxiety.
3. build an adequate supply of blood to sustain a normal menstrual cycle, nourish the eggs to be revitalized, and support a healthy pregnancy.
4. help dissolve the thick, waxy coating found on the surface of the ovaries to improve ovarian function, enhance egg quality with the use of Chinese herbal medicine.
5. soothe the sympathetic nervous system to relax the body, reduce stress and influence healthy ovulation

JOANNE MC GOVERN

 Dip. Ac., Lic. Ac., ITEC., Dip. Chinese Herbs, Dip. Stress Management., Dip. Nutritional Advisor.,MAFPA.,

Members of the AFPA  approved by Quinn, VHI, VIVAS and HSA for Out-Patient insurance purposes

mcgovernjoanne1@gmail.com