WHAT CAUSES PCOS?

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes PCOS. They believe that prime levels of male hormones prevent the ovaries from producing hormones and eggs normally. PCOS could also be a “syndrome,” or group of symptoms that affects the ovaries and ovulation. Its three main features are:

• Cysts within the ovaries
• High levels of male hormones
• Irregular or skipped periods

In PCOS, many small fluid-filled sacs may grow inside the ovaries. The word “polycystic” means “many cysts.” These sacs are actually follicles, all containing an immature egg. The eggs never mature enough to trigger ovulation. The shortage of ovulation alters levels of estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH. Estrogen and progesterone levels are usual, while androgen levels are higher. Extra male hormones disrupt the cycle, so women with PCOS get fewer periods than usual.A few causes may include,

• Genes : Studies show that PCOS runs in families. It’s likely that a lot of genes could contribute to the condition
• Insulin resistance : Up to 70 percent of women with PCOS are diagnosed with insulin resistance, meaning their cells can’t use insulin properly. Insulin could also be a hormone the pancreas produces to help the body use sugar from foods for energy. When cells can’t use insulin properly, the body’s demand for insulin increases. The pancreas makes more insulin to compensate. Extra insulin triggers the ovaries to provide more male hormones. Obesity may be a major explanation for insulin resistance. Both obesity and insulin resistance might increase the risk for type 2 diabetes
• Inflammation : Women with PCOS usually have increased levels of inflammation in their body. Being overweight could also contribute to inflammation. Studies and research have linked excess inflammation to higher androgen levels.Acupuncture is the best possible remedy to treat inflammation

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PCOS:

Some women start seeing symptoms around the time of their period. Others only discover they have PCOS after they’ve gained plenty of weight or they’ve had trouble getting pregnant. The most common PCOS symptoms are:

• Irregular periods : Lack of ovulation prevents the uterine lining from shedding monthly. Some women with PCOS get fewer than eight periods a year
• Heavy bleeding : The uterine lining builds up for an extended period of time, therefore the periods are often heavier than normal along with pelvic pain
• Hair growth : 70 percent of women with this condition grow hair on their face and body, including on their back, belly and chest. Excess hair growth is named hirsutism
• Acne : Male hormones can make the skin oilier than usual and cause breakouts on areas a bit like the face, chest and upper back
• Weight gain : Up to 60-80 percent of women with PCOS are said to be overweight or obese
• Male-pattern baldness : Hair on the scalp gets thinner and tend to fall out
• Darkening of the skin : Dark patches of skin can form in body creases like those on the neck, within the groin and under the breasts. Causes excess skin tags on the neck or within the armpits
• Headaches : Hormone changes could trigger headaches in some women
• Infertility : Having above normal androgen levels can affect your fertility and other aspects of your health. To get pregnant, you've got to ovulate. Women who don’t ovulate regularly might not release as many eggs to be fertilized. PCOS is considered to be one of the leading causes of infertility in women
• Metabolic syndrome : Up to 80 percent of girls with PCOS are overweight or obese. Both obesity and PCOS increase your risk for top blood sugar, high BP, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol and high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Together, these factors are called metabolic syndrome, which they increase the danger for heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
• Sleep apnea : This condition tends to cause repeated pauses in breathing during the night, which might interrupt sleep. Sleep apnea is more common in women who are overweight, especially if they even have PCOS. The danger for apnea is 5 to 10 times higher in obese women with PCOS than in those without PCOS
• Endometrial cancer : During ovulation, the uterine lining sheds. If you don’t ovulate monthly, the liner can build up. A thickened uterine lining could increase the risk for endometrial cancer
• Depression : Both hormonal changes and symptoms such as unwanted hair growth could negatively affect your emotions and cause mood swings. Many with PCOS end up experiencing depression and anxiety
• Pregnancy : PCOS interrupts the normal cycle and makes it harder to become pregnant. Between 70 and 80 percent of girls with PCOS have fertility problems. This condition can also increase the danger for pregnancy complications. Women who have PCOS are twice as likely as women without the condition to deliver their baby prematurely. They’re also at greater risk for miscarriage, high BP and gestational diabetes. However, women with PCOS may get pregnant by undergoing fertility treatments that improve ovulation. Losing weight and lowering blood glucose levels can improve your odds of getting a healthy pregnancy

HOW TO DIAGNOSE PCOS?

Doctors typically diagnose PCOS in women who have a minimum of two of these three symptoms

• High androgen levels
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Cysts within the ovaries

Your doctor might also ask whether you’ve had symptoms like acne, hair growth and weight gain.

A pelvic exam can look for any problems along side your ovaries or other parts of your reproductive tract. During this test, your doctor would insert gloved fingers into your vagina and check for any growths in your ovaries or uterus

Blood tests help to analyze higher than normal levels of male hormones. You could possibly even have to get blood tests to ascertain your cholesterol, insulin and triglyceride levels to gauge your risk for related conditions like heart disease and diabetes. An ultrasound uses sound waves to look for abnormal follicles and other problems alongside your ovaries and uterus. All this is done in order to provide the best treatments and therapies that offer remedy and provide relief.

Seek medical attention if:

• You’ve missed periods and you’re not pregnant
• You have symptoms of PCOS, like hair growth on your face and body
• You’ve been trying to get pregnant for quite 12 months but haven’t been successful
• You have symptoms of diabetes, like excess thirst or hunger, blurred vision, or unexplained weight loss

If you are diagnosed with PCOS, plan regular visits with your doctor. You’ll need regular tests to ascertain for diabetes, BP and other possible complications.

WHAT ARE THE CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS FOR PCOS?

Birth control pills and other medicines can help regulate the cycle and treat PCOS symptoms like hair growth and acne.

• : Taking estrogen and progestin everyday acts as a remedy and it could restore a standard hormone balance, regulate ovulation, relieve symptoms like excess hair growth and protect against endometrial cancer. These hormones are available as a pill, patch or vaginal ring
• Metformin : Metformin (Glucophage, Fortamet) may be a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. It also treats PCOS by improving insulin levels. One study found that taking metformin while making changes to diet and exercise improves weight loss, lowers blood sugar and restores a standard cycle better than changes to diet and exercise alone
• Clomiphene : Clomiphene (Clomid) could also be a drug which can help women with PCOS get pregnant. However, it increases the danger for twins and other multiple births
• Hair removal medicines : A few treatments could help get rid of unwanted hair or stop it from growing. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) cream could also be a prescription that slows hair growth. Laser hair removal and electrolysis can get rid of unwanted hair on your face and as well as body
• Surgical treatments : Surgery is often an option to improve fertility if other treatments don’t work. Ovarian drilling could also be a procedure that makes tiny holes within the ovary with a laser or thin heated needle to revive normal ovulation. Acupuncture is proven to be the best remedy and permanent treatment that helps to avoid surgery

BEST TREATMENT FOR PCOS:

In order to find out the best treatment for PCOS, some recent research was done and has shown that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of irregular periods. This suggests that acupuncture could be an alternative treatment for PCOS. Another study compared standard Western medications for PCOS with TCM acupuncture treatments. This study found that the difference in symptoms after 4 and 12 weeks was almost the same between these two groups, showing that acupuncture can be just as effective in the treatment of PCOS as the standard prescribed medications and could be an alternative treatment for menstrual problems. Compared with a control group, patients receiving traditional acupuncture experienced significant improvement on a visual analogue scale after treatments. It also implies that acupuncture could be the best therapy for PCOS.

EFFECTIVENESS OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT

People use acupuncture since it is one of the best remedies that help to treat a variety of menstrual problems. Acupuncture is said to have some advantages over antihistamines and helps in providing treatments without surgery as well. The benefits of Acupuncture are immediate relief from symptoms, reduced chances of recurrence.

• Acupuncture might help in relieving pain in patients with PCOS by increasing endorphins and neuropeptide levels, which can help to combat negative affective states
• By stimulating the nerves located in muscles and other tissues, acupuncture leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors and helps to change the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord, acting as an effective remedy for PCOS
• Acupuncture reduces inflammation, by promoting the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors providing the best relief for irregular periods
• It enhances natural killer cell activities and modulates the number and ratio of immune cell types
• It increases the local microcirculation, which aids in dispersal of swelling and provides relief from period problems

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE HELP TO TREAT PCOS?

• Acupuncture is the best remedy that has been seen to profoundly improve the reproductive organs through mechanisms within the sympathetic systema nervosum and neuroendocrine system.
• When needles are inserted into certain points and stimulated during a selected manner, it produces a neurological reflex transmitted to the organ correlated thereupon tract, for instance the needles inserted into the leg muscles below the knee, lower back or abdomen in specific regions cause a response which measurably affects the ovary
• Additionally, the systema nervosum will transmit a sign to the brain and therefore the brain then emits a response which affects the organ from a central mechanism. These effects are investigated through measurements of hormones, neuropeptides and circulatory changes on humans receiving acupuncture, by providing relief
• For treating people with PCOS, the foremost goal of acupuncture is to reinforce hemodynamics or blood flow, to the ovaries and uterine lining. This is often a very important method because blood carries hormones, electrolytes, oxygen and nutrients to specialise in tissue formation and upon its return, takes debris or dead cells faraway from the target tissue.
• Acupuncture enables an increase within the patency of blood flow to any tissue (any time, not just during the time of preparing for pregnancy) and this means a healthier tissue and a far better performing organ system, acting as one of the best remedies

WHAT IS THE MECHANISM OF ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture is a traditional therapy that supports the thought of energetics within the body and it is considered to be the permanent treatment to cure PCOS, sometimes it could help by avoiding surgeries as well.

• Treatment consists of inserting needles at various pressure points on the body and through the skin. Needles aren't meant to cause pain, harm or discomfort
• A professional acupuncturist would target energy (or “qi” in Chinese medicine) or acupuncture points for treatment. These also are termed as meridians, with some being of special benefit to painful nerves and muscles within the body, by providing the best remedy for irregular periods
• By stimulating these points, parts of the systema nervosum also are stimulated to alleviate pain. Acupuncture also can provide the best pain relief from other similar menstrual issues that there might not be too many pain remedy options

There are acupuncture points for PCOS between spleen and kidney, which can help bring relief from PCOS. One set of points is located right in the center between kidney and liver meridians. This helps to restore focus and calms your mind. There are other acupuncture points that respond well to self-massage, according to the philosophy of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. To help relieve pressure from PCOS, try gently but firmly pressing the points located on your lower back, to get relief from menstrual cramps.

This point is called Yintang and is revered by many acupuncturists and Oriental medicine practitioners for its ability to induce calmness and send energy or Qi in a downward direction; therefore, massaging Yintang is particularly helpful to provide relief from pain due to PCOS, that potentially give rise to other symptoms of menstrual problems.

ACUPUNCTURE FOR PCOS:

Before acupuncture is used as a relief for PCOS, it is essential to understand the severity of symptoms. This would help the practitioner to know how acupuncture for PCOS would work out for you and determine the best method of treatment. In general, acupuncture is believed to provide treatment for PCOS by stimulating the nervous system and causes the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. It provides remedy using the biochemical changes that tend to influence the body's homeostatic mechanisms, hence promoting physical and emotional well-being. The best treatment to relieve pain caused by menstrual issues is by stimulating certain acupuncture points that affect areas of the brain and reduce sensitivity to pain. It is considered as the best surgery alternative to cure PCOS.

RELIEF FOR PCOS:

• Acupuncture is considered to successfully regulate hormones and improvise ovarian blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) related infertility. Child Healthcare Hospital researchers compared the efficaciousness of acupuncture and drug therapy. Inclusion of acupuncture to drug therapy produced superior patient outcomes over patients receiving only drug monotherapy. Of all the treatments, the acupuncture proved simpler and is the best alternative treatment
• Women with PCOS have a highly active sympathetic nervous system, the part that isn’t controlled by our will, which both acupuncture and regular exercise reduced levels of activity during this system compared with the control group, which could be an evidence for the results, that provides relief
• The results indicate that acupuncture integrative care provides significant benefits for girls with PCOS related infertility. These include improvements within the regulation of hormone levels and ovarian blood flow, which are significantly greater improvements than using only conventional drug monotherapy. The findings suggest that acupuncture is the best remedy has the potential to reinforce clinical outcomes for girls with PCOS when combined with usual care

BEST CURE FOR PCOS:

Looking for a best remedy to treat PCOS in Chennai, here’s why you should reach out to the best Acupuncturist. A. Shaji Bharath from Dr.Bharath’s Acu Heal. He is currently treating patients for a wide range of conditions. As a certified acupuncture practitioner with 15 years of experience, with vast knowledge on Obstetrics and gynaecology and having worked with several endocrinologists and gynaecologists, Dr.Bharat has seen Acupuncture doing wonders on people suffering from PCOS. The effectiveness rate increases several times just with one course of Acupuncture and it can help alleviate the symptoms, reduce pain and increase the rate of pregnancy, helping patients get back to their normal routine, by evaluating your condition and offering appropriate and permanent treatment. Most of the people swear by acupuncture, citing it as a ‘miracle’ to improving their quality of life, that focuses on treating PCOS, which allows you to live a hassle free healthy life.

Dial: +91 9884746916 or Visit: drbharathsacuheal.com for more details on treating PCOS using Acupuncture, by contacting the top acupuncture clinic in Chennai.

PCOS TREATMENT WITHOUT SURGERY:

It is surprising to know that PCOS treatment without surgery is very much possible depending on the stage of the condition. Most people can treat the problem with home care and medicines but the better option for immediate results for non surgical treatment for PCOS is acupuncture.

Acupuncture helps the patients to have a permanent cure, preventing more infections caused due to surgery. To be sure that surgery is a good choice, you need to have a blood test or imaging tests in order to diagnose if there is any underlying condition instead of PCOS. This test will be done after you have followed what's called "maximum medical treatment" for 4 to 6 weeks. This means that you take medicines and follow home treatment to reduce pain, infection and swelling. That helps your doctor see what's causing this condition. Due to some of the below complications, people opt for treatment for PCOS without surgery

• You may need more than one surgery to fix your menstrual issues
• After surgery, you still may need to take medicines, such as antibiotics and follow home treatment for a long time.

BEST ACUPUNCTURE DOCTOR NEAR ME

To choose the Best doctor for Acupuncture, it's important that the Acupuncturist should have a decade of experience and treated at least 1000 to 2000 patients.

You can also search for the Best Acupuncture Doctor near me or ask your primary care physician to refer an experienced Acupuncturist nearby. Once you find the Best Acupuncture Doctor in Chennai, you may go through their google reviews first and then fix an appointment with the doctor only when you are satisfied with the reviews.

The Best Acupuncture Doctor should address your concerns and help you feel more comfortable before your first session. Acupuncture usually takes numerous sessions or several weeks to get a complete cure in any ailment but within 3 or 4 sessions the patients will experience positive differences.

BEST ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC NEAR ME

Owing to the demand for the treatment, there are numerous clinics popping up and it is sometimes skeptical to choose the best or even the safe one. To address such concerns, you can look into the following points to choose the best acupuncture clinic for PCOS. Acupuncture is also offered in hospital pain clinics and by healthcare organizations but it is ideal to visit the best Acupuncture Clinic for PCOS. If you are not sure, it would be a good idea to contact your local doctor to see if they would be prepared to refer you to the best rated acupuncture clinics. For example in cases where a patient specifically requests acupuncture for PCOS, or where it is felt that acupuncture would complement conventional treatment. In some cases acupuncture is offered in top rated acupuncture clinics near me because conventional treatment has failed or produces unacceptable side effects. Most of the best acupuncture clinics for PCOS will spell out very clearly

• what type of acupuncture they practice
• how much they charge
• how professional they are - at present anyone can set themselves up as an acupuncturist but reputable practitioners will belong to an organization
• whether the premises are hygienic and smart
• what other therapies they offer

So while you are filtering the best clinics for acupuncture that treats PCOS, you can look out for the above factors.

We have been rewarded a 5-star rating from Google & Practo. You can also check the reviews there.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If you have PCOS and looking to try alternative treatments, acupuncture may be worth a shot. Just make sure you see a licensed acupuncturist and keep up with any prescribed PCOS treatments.

SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES:

• Zheng YH, Su NJ, Ding T. Treatment of PCOS by acupuncture: present experimental and clinical reports.ChinJ. Integr Tradit West Med, 2012;32(10):1436–1439. 2. National Institutes of Health Department of Health and Human Services. Beyond Infertility: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) NIH Pub. No. 08-5863, April 2008. 3. McFarland C. Treating polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility. MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2012;37(2):116–121.

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FAQ:

What are the services provided for PCOS by Dr. Bharath’s Acu Heal?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that tends to affect a woman’s hormone levels. Women with PCOS might produce higher than normal amounts of male hormones. This hormone imbalance causes them to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to become pregnant. PCOS also causes hair growth on the face and body and baldness.

After a thorough investigation by pulse and tongue diagnosis, condition of the disease is understood by the Acupuncturist .

The treatment will be given based on the disease’s chronicity and acuteness. In the first few sessions, positive changes in symptoms may be experienced and after several more sessions there are 90 to 100% chance that the patient be cured of the disease .This treatment will help in inducing sound sleep which will help and play a vital role in reversing this ailment. Simultaneously the patient will be advised on a diet and exercise regime.

What are the benefits of acupuncture for PCOS?

This is a drugless therapy and there are no side effects. During or after completing the course of treatment any form of medication if any can be stopped.

How many sessions do you need for PCOS?

It takes around 20 to 30 sessions in a period of 3 to 4 months.