PCOS Treatment

Posts Tagged ‘PCOS Treatment’

Acupuncture is an art of treating illnesses by means of piercing the skin at definite points of the body with the use of a thin needle thereby alleviating pain or other medical conditions. The term is from the Latin word “Acus” which means “needle” and “Pungere” which also means “to puncture”.  Now, traditional allopathic medicine and medical acupuncture are merged along with traditional Chinese medications and therapies to treat a range of ailments, from arthritis to depression and fertility problems, controlling blood pressure, and the process of healing the body itself.

Infertility is defined as when a woman has difficulty conceiving in her time of ovulation. The man or the woman may be the cause or both; for men, it is of a low sperm count or abnormality in the anatomy and for the woman, maybe ovulatory dysfunction or inherited disorders, infections and venereal disease, mishandled abortions; bacterial organism usually by using tampons, might be a problem in the fallopian tube or of any undeterminable cause.

Acupuncture infertility treatment is to have the body in a state of relaxation and the stimulation of the uterus such that the transplanted egg can be nourished. Hormonal imbalances can also be treated. Vital organs of the body are also regulated by its blood flow thereby regulating and enhancing the body’s system efficacy. Acupuncture infertility also improves follicular function of the  ovary along with herbs for fertility improvement, has a more success rate than IVF and more specialist are introducing

Acupuncture infertility treatment as part of a pre-treatment in IVF. It also treats repeated pregnancy loss, unexplained infertility (secondary infertility) – either by elevated proclactin levels, ovarian insufficiency, hyperprolactinemia (when not caused by a prolactinoma) or polycystic ovary disease. Infertility among men is when those who cannot produce sperm or the sperm count is very low or weak where it cannot reach the female egg. Sperm factors account most of infertility cases.

Unfortunately, many women have found out the hard way that PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) can cause infertility. Most doctors diagnose infertility as a couple’s inability to conceive naturally after one year of actively trying. Some women who are older may be diagnosed earlier, at 6 months. Infertility can be caused by a few different factors. Many women with PCOS have very irregular periods, or none at all. Some women do not ovulate (anovulation). Seeking infertility treatment for PCOS is how many women even find out they have the disease.

Clomid is a prescription medication that helps induce ovulation. Clomid may not work for everyone who tries it, and if you do conceive you have an increased chance of twins or multiples. Clomid is started at the beginning of the menstrual cycle that may need to be induced with a medication such as Provera, and is generally taken for 5 days in the cycle (days 3 to 7 or days 5 to 9) at a dose of 50 mg. The dosage may later be increased to 100 mg if the starting dose did not result in pregnancy. Sometimes 150 mg is tried. Ovulation should then occur within 8 to 10 days of finishing Clomid, but this can vary per person. A few cycles on each dosage are generally tried, depending on how fast the couple would like to give it a chance to work.

Clomid may not be covered by many health insurance policies, as fertility treatment often is not seen as a medical necessity. However, Clomid is not that expensive and there is a generic version available. You are probably looking at paying anywhere from $15 to $30 per cycle.

Side effects of Clomid could include mood swings, hot flashes, abdominal pain, cyst formation, nausea, low quality cervical fluid, multiple pregnancy or visual changes. Mood swings tend to be pretty common, but we all have suffered PMS symptoms at one point or another (ladies at least!).

There are many PCOS treatment options available, ranging from natural alternatives to surgical procedures. The cause of PCOS is not necessarily known, and treatment is determined by many factors. There is no actual cure for polycystic ovarian syndrome, but treatments can keep symptoms under control. Many women do not even know they suffer from PCOS until they try to get pregnant. Fertility is generally defined when a couple that is actively trying to conceive does not succeed within one year.Here are some common PCOS treatment choices

Lifestyle Changes

Some people with PCOS follow a specific diet that eliminates processed foods and excess sugars. The diet promotes whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Regular exercise is also recommended. Obesity can be a problem with PCOS, and weight loss can improve symptoms.

Birth Control

Women that are not trying to conceive can take birth control pills, which can help symptoms of acne, irregular menstrual cycles, and hormone irregularities. These pills help symptoms, which will most likely come back once the treatment is stopped.

Metformin

Metformin is a prescription medication that is FDA-approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Metformin has not been approved for the treatment of PCOS, but it is often prescribed off-label for insulin resistance associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome, as well as helping to control testosterone production.

Fertility Medications

Some women who do not improve from treatment of PCOS symptoms, and are still unable to conceive, have to move on to fertility treatments. Some medications can help induce ovulation, or more invasive treatments are available. Many fertility medications increase the risk of twins or other multiples.

Surgery

Ovarian drilling is a surgical treatment option that increases the chance of improving ovulation. Ovarian drilling can be done laparoscopically, which is a less invasive form of surgery. Scar tissue formation on the ovaries is a risk of the surgery.

Anti-Androgens

Androgens are male hormones that are commonly found at higher levels in patients diagnosed with PCOS. Androgens cause excess hair growth and acne. There are some anti-androgen medications available to control androgen levels, and are often combined with birth control pills. This is generally not a treatment given to pregnant women, or women who are trying to conceive.