P.C.O.S Consultation at our Melbourne clinic
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects 5-10% of women that are of childbearing age.
PCOS is an endocrine disorder (hormone disorder) with increased levels above normal of testosterone, estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH) and decreased hormone levels below normal of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
In some women, characteristic physical signs of PCOS are present but this is dependent on how severe the hormonal imbalance is including:
- anovulation (failure to ovulate in the extreme, irregular ovulation more commonly),
- amenorrhea (failure of the normal menstrual cycle, irregular menstrual cycle)
- hirsutism (potential male hair distribution/thickening in different areas of the body - examples include hair on the back of shoulders or trunk)
- trunkal obesity
- Infertility (complete in the extreme or poor fertility more commonly)
A characteristic feature of the Ovaries in females includes the development of multiple cysts, often starting from early puberty. As a result, cysts that are filled with fluid develop inside the ovaries and may create moderate to severe pelvic pain at varying times of the monthly menstrual cycle. Some cysts may be small and others very large.
PCOS is a hormonal syndrome which may also be associated with other endocrine disease involving other endocrine glands (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian axis). Western medical laboratory blood tests (Endocrinological Screening) is very important to help with a full understanding of the clinical presentation any younger or older female is experiencing.
In the same manner of so many hormonal syndromes in women, there is a whole spectrum of clinical presentations from mild to severe. As with many hormonal syndromes, stress, sleep, exercise, lifestyle and diet all play a major part in how the disease or syndrome presents. (Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229914001915 ;
The insertion of needles into the skin and underlying muscle is a form of controlled stimulation, triggering muscle(s) and nerve endings to send information to the brain, via the spinal cord. TCM theory works on the concept that nervous system stimulation through appropriately placed acupuncture needles, inserted into key acupuncture points empirically mapped body onto anatomical areas of the body has the ability to send sensory information about the ovary to the brain. Somatosensory nerves have the anatomical connections to provide this feedback. Theoretically, the stimulation along these reflex pathways will have a normalising effect, decreasing the release of male hormones from the ovaries.
Physiologically, clinicians recognise that these androgens or male hormones are responsible for a lot of a woman's symptoms of PCOS.
Another theoretical way that acupuncture works in PCOS is by acupuncture acting on the system in the brain that releases hormones or the neuroendocrine system. It may lead to a decrease in the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) at the incorrect time in the cycle, which again leads to a decrease in the release of male hormones from the ovaries.
PCOS management at our Melbourne clinic is conducted by Dr Christine Cui, who is qualified and clinically experienced to help women with this condition. In most cases, acupuncture is extremely effective for more minor PCOS presentations that don't include other severe health concerns. This management may also help to improve symptoms relating to anxiety, weight gain, tension, headaches and uncomfortable abdominal pain and abdominal bloating.
Conclusions: (Taken from a Systematic Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine Literature)
" Acupuncture may increase the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) and decrease the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in women with PCOS undergoing IVF or ICSI. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as an adjunct to assisted reproductive technology in this particular population." ( Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28077366/)
For Melbourne women experiencing these symptoms, our management may assist in stimulating the reproductive system and organs to positively influence surrounding blood flow. Acupuncture, with Chinese herbal medicine, is recommended in conjunction with Western medicine to maximise the chance of normal ovulation, minimise weight gain and improve fertility rates in those who suffer from PCOS. (Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229914001915 )
Of the up to 10% of women suffering from PCOS in Melbourne and across the country, teenage girls make up a large part, perhaps as high as 50% according to recent research.
Dr Christine Cui believes acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, along with appropriate healthy lifestyle and dietary changes offers both alternative and complementary management for teenagers suffering from PCOS. This natural management approach may assist in the PCOS management by reducing the need for taking the birth control pill from an early age as is the recommendation in conventional Western medicine. The natural TCM (Chinese Medicine) approach has the clinical goal of avoiding the potential and not uncommon side effects of long term contraceptive pill utilisation of irregular menstruation and poor ovulatory cycle predictability.
Discover more about our range of services by contacting our team. Make an appointment by calling (03) 9820 8651 and we will be happy to discuss your requirements and arrange a consultation. You can also leave your details in our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.