CONDITION: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

DESCRIPTION:
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), also called Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a disorder in which the ovaries are enlarged and contain many fluid-filled sacs called cysts. The syndrome, which often begins during the teenage years, usually leads to irregular periods, and occasionally cessation of menstruation, called amenorrhea. Women with PCOS may also have trouble getting pregnant. An estimated 5 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age have PCOS. At least 30 percent of all women have experienced some symptoms of PCOS at some point.

How does polycystic ovarian syndrome develop?
During the normal maturation process of a woman’s ovum, an egg develops within a cyst inside the ovary. The rupture of the follicle and release of the mature egg or ovum is called ovulation. The ovaries also produce the hormones estrogen, progesterone and androgens. The multiple small cysts seen in a polycystic ovary are the result of eggs that only partially develop within the ovary. It is thought that a slight elevation of male hormones, characteristic of women with PCOS, may inhibit the eggs’ development. An egg’s failure to mature leads to a lack of ovulation in women with PCOS. The syndrome also causes the pituitary gland to secrete large amounts of luteinizing hormone, which leads to male-type characteristics.

What are the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome?
The primary symptoms of PCOS include menstrual irregularities, increased body and facial hair, acne, weight gain and infertility. Additional symptoms include lack of ovulation, gynecological cancers and changes in blood lipid levels (such as cholesterol), which increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes.

Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), but they do not address the root of the problem. By addressing the underlying reproductive hormonal imbalance with natural medicine therapies, PCOS can be alleviated permanently.

Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat PCOS.

Learn about the treatments for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)