Ovulation - the release of a single egg from a follicle that developed in the ovary. It usually occurs regularly, around day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle.

PCOS - (polycystic ovarian syndrome) a hormone disorder in women that is also a leading cause of infertility. Other symptoms of PCOS include increased weight, increased facial hair, skin problems (i.e. acne), and irregular or absent ovulation.

Mr Stefan Chmelik on Ovulation issues, irregular ovulation, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD)

Regular ovulation is of course necessary to get pregnant, but can also cause other health problems when it does not happen. Cysts on the ovaries due to eggs not being released properly may be visible on an ultrasound scan, but PCOS/PCOD presents with a range of symptoms, and you may not have all of them. Some of the most common problems are facial acne and weight problems, as well as irregular periods.

Hormonal imbalances should not be taken in isolation, and PCOS/PCOD is good example of that. It is the blood-sugar and metabolic balancing hormones that are out of synch as well as the sex hormones here, and it is this that leads to the associated symptoms.

Conventional treatment is hormonal medication, and maybe antibiotics or Roaccutane for acne. These can be helpful in the short term in changing the symptoms, but seldom resolve the underlying hormonal imbalance, and the problem tends to reoccur when they are stopped.

The holistic Chinese Medicine approach is to balance the function of all the organs and endocrine glands to address the actual cause of the problem, while at the same time treating distressing symptoms such as acne. A treatment programme may consist of techniques such as acupuncture, herbal medicine or dietary therapy and detoxification, depending on each persons needs.

Dr Brian Kaplan on Ovulation issues, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Disease, Irregular ovulation.

Orthodox Treatment:

This involves full investigation including ultrasound and hormonal assays often followed by hormonal treatment. This may not be avoidable in some cases but there is often the chance to try an holistic approach before committing to hormonal treatment.

Homeopathy:

In my opinion all disorders of the female endocrine system are well worth treating with homeopathy. Most homeopathic doctors report encouraging results when treating the conditions listed above. I always use a constitutional approach in which a homeopathic remedy is chosen for the whole woman as well as the specific problem.

Nutrition:

Changing to a healthy diet and taking some supplements can have a major effects on these hormonally-related problems and nutritional changes will always be considered.

Autogenic Therapy:

Many hormonal disorders can be stress related and respond to techniques of deep relaxation such as Autogenic Therapy.

Overall:

Nobody will say that PCOD and PCOS are ‘easy to treat’ but this is true whether a doctor is using conventional or ‘complementary’ medicine. Nevertheless it is well worth treating the whole woman in these conditions. At the very least the patient should feel much better in herself and when the whole woman feels better the hormonal ‘dis-ease’ in the system can improve too.

go (select a condition)

go (select a treatment)