Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

This is the main cause of failure to ovulate in a cycle. It is also the most common hormonal cause of female infertility. There is a storing genetic component in this syndrome.
Symptoms include:

1. Irregular cycles
2. Being overweight
3. Excess body hair
4. Acne
5. Blood tests show elevated testosterone and LH levels
6. Vaginal ultrasound will show ovaries with lots of follicles not matured
7. There may be no ovulation or occasional ovulations depending on severity

Severity of PCOS can depend on body fat. In TCM PCOS is under the section phlegm-damp, however there are many different types of PCOS. Treatment is based on the unique pattern of each patient. At one end of PCOS spectrum there is the thin restless “Yin Deficient” women who ovulate irregularly and who has high testosterone and at the other end is cold damp, women who have infrequent periods or has stopped ovulating altogether. Siobhán treats each women individually with herbs, good diet recommendations and acupuncture with excellent results (see testimonials above).