Jenny Crissman MS, L.Ac
Managing and Reversing PCOS:
PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. It can effect hormones, fertility, the skin, cardiovascular health and metabolism. It is considered a syndrome, not a disease, and there are wide range of ways that PCOS can present and a variety of factors that characterize it. It is important to acknowledge that there are in fact different types or phenotypes of the syndrome, which explains why two women with PCOS might look different.
For example PCOS can be expressed in women with excessive androgenic hormones like testosterone, producing acne and hair growth or it can present with abdominal weight gain, infertility and loss of ovulation and menstrual cycles.
In 1990, The National Institute of Health ( NIH), defined PCOS as requiring three criteria:
Delayed ovulation or periods
Excess androgens, such as testosterone or DHEA, causing acne, hirsutism, male-pattern hair loss, or high androgens on a woman's blood work.
Other conditions that would create a similar syndrome would have to be excluded.
Interestingly, the NIH did not require a women to have ovarian cysts to be diagnosed with PCOS
In 2003 a meeting in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, sponsored by two top reproductive medicine groups: one European ( ESHRF) and one American ( ASRM). They gathered to to refine the definition of PCOS. They produced The Rotterdam criteria:
Delayed ovulation or menstrual cycles
Hyperandrogenism/high androgenic hormone like testosterone
Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound.
What set the Rotterdam criteria apart in diagnosing PCOS was that the women didn’t' need to have all three of the characteristics . Only two of the three were required for diagnosis.
This reinforces the idea that PCOS is a very complex disorder, and that these types are mainly holding a place for what we understand as of now.
DEFINING THE SYMPTOMS:
Anovulation: Fewer than ten menstrual cycles per year. Cycles 35 days or longer
Hyperandrogenism: Basically means there are high levels of hormones, such as testosterone, DHEA or androstenedione. These hormones are responsible for causing male sexual characteristics like the growth of facial and body hair and hair loss in specific patterns. Hair growth on the chin, upper lip, on the chest or stomach or around the nipples Acne along the jawline or on the back is also a symptom of hormone imbalance.
PCOS Cysts: Twelve or more follicles in a single ovary ranging from 2-9 millimeters an enlarged ovary. These cyst differ from those of women without PCOS These “cysts” are not even true cysts. They are underdeveloped follicles that accumulate in the ovaries rather than going to ovulation.
TREATMENT:
Address Inflammation- Inflammatory chemicals are made to damage cells of invaders, but they can also damage our own cells if left unchecked. Having chronic inflammation in our bodies can disrupt your hormones and cause premature aging. This involves managing food reactions and addressing insulin resistance and healing the gut.
PCOS Supplements to Minimize Inflammation:
Resveratrol
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Bioflavanoids- Grape Seed Extract, Pine Bark Extract, Green Tea
https://www.standardprocess.com/Products/MediHerb/Vitanox#.
Glutathione and N-Acetyl Cysteine
Curcumin
Vitamin D
Heal the Gut:
Probiotics
L- Glutamine
http://www.pureencapsulations.com/l-glutamine-powder.html
Zinc
Heal Insulin Resistance- manage blood sugar levels and glycogen storage and promote weight loss
Natural Ways to Treat Insulin Resistance:
Exercise
Inositol
Vitamin D
Berberine
http://www.integrativepro.com/products/herbal-combinations/berberine-complex
Chromium
Selenium
Cinnamon
Balance Adrenals and Improve Your Mood- Put a halt to the wired tired feeling, insomnia, abdominal weight gain. Or Fatigue, depression, salt cravings, low blood pressure, low libido.
http://www.diagnostechs.com/Pages/AdrenalStressIndex.aspx
Treatments for Adrenal Conditions:
L-Theanine
Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Licorice
Red Sage
Vitex
Magnesium
B- complex vitamins
YOGA, Self – Care, Meditation, Counseling
Treat Androgen Excess-
Natural Treatments for Androgen Excess:
Licorice
White Peony
Green Tea
Reishi Mushrooms
https://mushroomscience.com/reishi/
Melatonin
Black Cohosh
Address Hormonal Imbalances-
*First do some testing. Blood work to look at FSH, LH, Estradiol, Progesterone, Prolactin and AMH.
Natural Therapies for Female Hormone Regulation:
Vitex
Chinese Medicine Herbal combinations; Don Quai, Peony and Cinnamon, Peony and Licorice …
Balance Your Thyroid-
*First do some testing. Lab Testing for TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3 and Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody.
Natural Treatments :
Iodine
Selenium
Ashwaganda
Zinc
Create a Healthful Environment-
Things to Consider- check your exposure and your ingredients!
Chemicals and Plastics
Skin Care Products
Pesticide Exposure
Household Chemicals
Last, But not Least-
Eat a Balanced Diet!!
As an acupuncturist I am trained in diagnosing from an alternative perspective, but nonetheless , because I have an abundance of additional tools at my disposal it is critical to use them when trying to treat a complex disorder such as PCOS.
if you suspect you or someone you know, suffer from PCOS or are having conception/fertility difficulties please know that you can find help at my office!
Managing and Reversing PCOS:
PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. It can effect hormones, fertility, the skin, cardiovascular health and metabolism. It is considered a syndrome, not a disease, and there are wide range of ways that PCOS can present and a variety of factors that characterize it. It is important to acknowledge that there are in fact different types or phenotypes of the syndrome, which explains why two women with PCOS might look different.
For example PCOS can be expressed in women with excessive androgenic hormones like testosterone, producing acne and hair growth or it can present with abdominal weight gain, infertility and loss of ovulation and menstrual cycles.
In 1990, The National Institute of Health ( NIH), defined PCOS as requiring three criteria:
Delayed ovulation or periods
Excess androgens, such as testosterone or DHEA, causing acne, hirsutism, male-pattern hair loss, or high androgens on a woman's blood work.
Other conditions that would create a similar syndrome would have to be excluded
*Interestingly, the NIH did not require a women to have ovarian cysts to be diagnosed with PCOS
In 2003 a meeting in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, sponsored by two top reproductive medicine groups: one European ( ESHRF) and one American ( ASRM). They gathered to to refine the definition of PCOS. They produced The Rotterdam criteria:
Delayed ovulation or menstrual cycles
Hyperandrogenism/high androgenic hormone like testosterone
Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound.
What set the Rotterdam criteria apart in diagnosing PCOS was that the women didn’t' need to have all three of the characteristics . Only two of the three were required for diagnosis.
This reinforces the idea that PCOS is a very complex disorder, and that these types are mainly holding a place for what we understand as of now.
DEFINING THE SYMPTOMS:
Anovulation: Fewer than ten menstrual cycles per year. Cycles 35 days or longer
Hyperandrogenism: Basically means there are high levels of hormones, such as testosterone, DHEA or androstenedione. These hormones are responsible for causing male sexual characteristics like the growth of facial and body hair and hair loss in specific patterns. Hair growth on the chin, upper lip, on the chest or stomach or around the nipples Acne along the jawline or on the back is also a symptom of hormone imbalance.
PCOS Cysts: Twelve or more follicles in a single ovary ranging from 2-9 millimeters an enlarged ovary. These cyst differ from those of women without PCOS These “cysts” are not even true cysts. They are underdeveloped follicles that accumulate in the ovaries rather than going to ovulation.
TREATMENT:
Address Inflammation- Inflammatory chemicals are made to damage cells of invaders, but they can also damage our own cells if left unchecked. Having chronic inflammation in our bodies can disrupt your hormones and cause premature aging. This involves managing food reactions and addressing insulin resistance and healing the gut.
PCOS Supplements to Minimize Inflammation:
Resveratrol
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Bioflavanoids- Grape Seed Extract, Pine Bark Extract, Green Tea
https://www.standardprocess.com/Products/MediHerb/Vitanox#.
Glutathione and N-Acetyl Cysteine
Curcumin
Vitamin D
Heal the Gut:
Probiotics
L- Glutamine
http://www.pureencapsulations.com/l-glutamine-powder.html
Zinc
Heal Insulin Resistance- manage blood sugar levels and glycogen storage and promote weight loss
Natural Ways to Treat Insulin Resistance:
Exercise
Inositol
Vitamin D
Berberine
http://www.integrativepro.com/products/herbal-combinations/berberine-complex
Chromium
Selenium
Cinnamon
Balance Adrenals and Improve Your Mood- Put a halt to the wired tired feeling, insomnia, abdominal weight gain. Or Fatigue, depression, salt cravings, low blood pressure, low libido.
http://www.diagnostechs.com/Pages/AdrenalStressIndex.aspx
Treatments for Adrenal Conditions:
L-Theanine
Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Licorice
Red Sage
Vitex
Magnesium
B- complex vitamins
YOGA, Self – Care, Meditation, Counseling
Treat Androgen Excess-
Natural Treatments for Androgen Excess:
Licorice
White Peony
Green Tea
Reishi Mushrooms
https://mushroomscience.com/reishi/
Melatonin
Black Cohosh
Address Hormonal Imbalances-
*First do some testing. Blood work to look at FSH, LH, Estradiol, Progesterone, Prolactin and AMH.
Natural Therapies for Female Hormone Regulation:
Vitex
Herbal combinations; Don Quai, Peony and Cinnamon, Peony and Licorice …
Balance Your Thyroid-
*First do some testing. Lab Testing for TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3 and Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody.
Natural Treatments :
Iodine
Selenium
Ashwaganda
Zinc
Create a Healthful Environment-
Things to Consider-
Chemicals and Plastics
Skin Care Products
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Pesticide Exposure
Household Chemicals
Last, But not Least-
Eat a Balanced Diet!!
As an acupuncturist I am trained in diagnosing from an alternative perspective, but nonetheless , because I have an abundance of additional tools at my disposal it is critical to use them when trying to treat a complex disorder such as PCOS.
I hope you will look for help if you suspect you suffer from PCOS or are having conception/fertility difficulties.