Karen Reynolds Acupuncture

PCOS, Babies and You Part II

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imagesWelcome to Part II of PCOS, Babies & You

Are you are trying to get pregnant but having problems with regular ovulation or your menstrual cycle? This blog has important information about what is called: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS directly affects fertility, but here is how acupuncture helps.

There are many fertility blood tests out there. Two important ones are:

  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and
  • Luteinizing Hormone.

These are best drawn on your Cycle Day #3. For the purposes of fertility, it is healthy for Lab work for fertilityyour FSH and LH to be in what is called a One to One ratio. So for example: if a woman’s FSH is 6, ideally her LH would also be 6. Women with Polycsytic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have a much higher LH (often 2-3x more LH) than FSH.

Science shows that acupuncture improves this very important fertility ratio of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone in your body. 1 (Please see Part I of this blog for additional information about other signs of PCOS.)

 

Acupuncture is effective for PCOS. Here is how:

Acupuncture promotes ovulation. 2

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are highly effective in lowering testosterone levels in women with PCOS. 3 (Testosterone is another hormone, which is related to getting pregnant. It is usually high in women with PCOS.)Chines herbs for fertility/KReynoldsAcupuncture.com

The results of a clinical trial by a researcher, Shi reflect lowering testosterone levels by 80.6% with Chinese herbs alone and lowering testosterone levels by 93.8%using       both acupuncture and Chinese herbs together.

Acupuncture regulates:

  •             Hormone (endocrine) functions (like FSH, LH & Testosterone)
  •             Blood sugar levels,
  •             Cholesterol (lipid) levels. 4

 A study done by the famous infertility researcher, Elisabet Stener-Victorin, states that Acupuncture when received consistently over time has lasting benefits on hormones and ovulation for PCOS. 5

PCOS is complicated. It impacts your ovulation, menstrual cycle, fertility hormones as well as blood sugar and cholesterol. Your body is a finely tuned but also delicate operation. Anything that throws wrenches in your gears, distorts your baby making production line. Acupuncture can help you and baby making run more smoothly.Fertility, Babies, KReynoldsAcupuncture.com

Thank you for reading PCOS, Babies, and You~Parts I & II. All content here is written personally by me in with the goal that it is be helpful to you. Please enjoy and feel free to share with me your thoughts or questions here. As long as you include the link for this blog entry to credit me as the author, it is fine to repost or share this article if you wish. For scheduling information and appointment availability, do please visit my website at: KReynoldsAcupuncture.com.

1 Pastore, L.M., Williams, C.D., Jenkins, J., Patrie, J.T. (2011). True and sham acupuncture produced similar frequency of ovulation and improved LH to FSH in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 96(10):3143-3150.
 2 Liu, Z.C., Sun, F.M., Zhu, M.H., Wang, X.Z. (2004). Effect of acupuncture on insulin resistance in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 2(6): 8-11.
3 Shi, Y., Feng, H.J., Liu, H.R., Zhu, D. (2009). Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs on polycystic ovary syndrome of kidney deficiency and phlegm stasis type. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 29(2):99-102. Chinese.
4 Liu, Z.C., Sun, F.M., Zhu, M.H., Wang, X.Z. (2004). Effect of acupuncture on insulin resistance in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 2(6): 8-11.
5Stener-Victorin, E., Jedel, E., Manneras, L. (2008). Acupuncture in polycystic ovary syndrome: Current experimental and clinical evidence. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 20(3): 290-298.

 

 

PCOS, Babies & You

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Have you been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS? Many women do not become aware that they have it until trying to get pregnant. Some indicators of PCOS are a late onset of the first menstrual cycle, irregular menstrual cycles, and problems with ovulation. Women with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries. These are visible during an ultrasound. Your lab work may also show blood sugar as well as hormone issues.


4~PCOS ovaries

Women with can additionally experience the following:

  •             Acne,
  •             Scalp hair loss,
  •             Heavier facial or body hair,
  •             High testosterone levels,
  •             Very high sex drive,
  •             Reduced breast tissue.

It is wise to note that not all women with PCOS have all of these symptoms.

In my 16 years as a Fertility Acupuncturist and RN in Corte Madera, California, I have treated hundreds of women with PCOS. I have also seen instances in which PCOS is masked. So symptoms are less harsh. This can be the case if a woman is consistently on birth control pills at an early age and/or for a long period. However, fewer complaints does not mean getting pregnant will be easier. Frequently, PCOS is discovered when birth control pills are stopped to become pregnant and there is no consistent ovulation or menstruation.

So how does acupuncture help for you if you have PCOS? Here is what science says. First of all, multiple scientific papers cite that PCOS effects are reduced with consistent acupuncture. 1

research

More specifically

In 2011 the American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism published a study focusing on electro-acupuncture treating women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). As opposed to usual medical treatment or exercise alone, it found that:

  • Electro-acupuncture (EA) balances hormones in women with PCOS.
  • Electro-acupuncture (EA) regulates the menstrual cycle in women with PCOS.
  • Electro-acupuncture (EA) promotes ovulation in women with PCOS. 2

In case you are not familiar with Electro-acupuncture, it uses what is called microcurrent. Microcurrent is measured in milliamperes. 1 Milliampere is 1/1000th of a single ampere. So this is very small and gentle stimulation. What do you feel in an acupuncture treatment with electro-acupuncture? The sensation is a light tapping or fluttering. Because it is so relaxing, typically my patients fall asleep during their sessions with me.

images            Stay tuned for Part II of PCOS, Babies and You blog next week. I will discuss in more detail how Acupuncture balances female hormones. These are key in helping you become pregnant. All content here is written personally by me in with the goal that it is be helpful to you. Please enjoy. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions here. As long as you include the link for this blog entry to credit me as the author, it is fine to repost or share if you wish. For scheduling information and appointment availability, do please visit my website at: KReynoldsAcupuncture.com.

 

1 Cochrane, S., Smith, C.A., Possami-Inesedy, A., & Bensoussan, A. (2014). Acupuncture and women’s health: an overview of the role of acupuncture and its clinical management in women’s reproductive health. International Journal of Women’s Health, 6, 313-325.
2 Jedel, E., Labrie, F., Oden, A. et al (2011). Impact of electro-acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenism and oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism, 300 (1): E37-E45.

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