Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome, a common hormone imbalance in women, is one of the top women’s health issue I see. Most women find out they have PCOS in their 20’s or 30’s, but can be present at the onset of puberty. The imbalance of hormones can cause irregular or absent periods, ovarian cysts, acne, weight gain, fertility struggles, mood swings, and increased risk for diabetes and heart disease. Thankfully, there are many effective natural ways to treat PCOS.
May affect up to
1 out of 10 women in reproductive years
Whereas, the ovaries normally make a specific amount of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone, women with PCOS make more androgens (such as testosterone and DHEA-s) than usual. This can cause either irregular or lack of ovulation which translates to late or missed periods. Other androgen-like symptoms can also appear such as: acne, weight gain, mood swings, increase of body hair and hair loss/thinning. Because all hormones need to be in a delicate balance with each other, the increase in androgens causes other hormones to be unstable and adapt around these higher numbers. High level of testosterone can then lead to higher estrogen in the system, which causes heavier and more painful periods. Insulin is another hormone which is connected to high circulating androgens. Women with PCOS often also have insulin resistance. Insulin resistance causes weight gain, can increase cholesterol levels and leads to increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
High levels of circulating androgens cause a disruption in the ovaries which fail to release mature eggs. The immature eggs form in the ovary, but are not released, instead forming small cysts around the edge of the ovaries (the “ring of pearls” seen on an ultrasound). Although many women who have PCOS can have children and even get pregnant naturally (despite what many of my patients have been told!), the failure to ovulate a mature egg is what can contribute to difficult conception. Unfortunately, women with PCOS who do conceive can have higher complications during pregnancy as well as an increased risk of miscarriage.
If PCOS is a possibility based on these symptoms, then a variety of blood tests are typically done including blood hormone levels, blood sugar and cardiovascular risk markers, such as cholesterol which is typically also elevated with PCOS. However, other causes of irregular cycles should be ruled out such as hypothyroidism and elevated prolactin levels (which may be caused by a small tumor in the brain releasing a hormone that stops the menstrual cycle). Additionally, a pelvic ultrasound is typically done to determine if the ovarian cysts are present.
Conventional Treatment
The most common conventional treatment for PCOS is birth control pills, shots or hormonal IUD’s. All of these will regulate hormones by shutting down your own hormone production by artificially overriding them. Depending on the pill, it may also help prevent acne and hair growth. Although this may be helpful in the short term for symptom management, this will not fix the cause of PCOS, it simply masks the hormonal dysfunction. This is also clearly not a good option for women who are trying to conceive.
Another medicine that may be given is Glucophage (Metformin). This is often used in diabetics to help decrease blood sugars. Because of the connection of insulin and glucose to sex hormone production, this drug will not only help blood sugar control, but also helps regulate periods and possibly weight loss.
Many women with PCOS who desire children are told by conventional doctors to stay on birth control until they are ready to conceive and then move straight to fertility treatments (although this is definitely not your only option). The oral fertility medication used, such as clomiphene (Clomid) or letrozole (Femara) may help induce ovulation and increase chances of conception. Increased intervention may also be used in cases where this is not effective such as IUI and IVF, which also come with a variety of egg producing and ovulating inducing drugs.
Medication may also be given for symptom management. Some hormone regulating drugs, such as Spironolactone may decrease acne and hair growth. There are also some topical creams which decrease hair growth in women. Yet some women opt for other treatments, such as laser hair removal or electrolysis for hair removal. Other symptomatic relief of acne includes topical creams and antibiotics.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is my favorite treatment for PCOS, by far. I find when I get the right remedy prescription for my patient, it is the quickest way to regulate the menstrual cycle. Homeopathy provides effective and gentle treatment for women with PCOS, without harmful side effects. Homeopathic remedies are made from natural substances and are prepared so that they are entirely non-toxic. In the United States, the Food and Drug administration or FDA regulates the manufacture and sale of homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy improves health by gently promoting the body’s innate capacity to heal and restore balance.
Homeopathic remedies can help stabilize moods, regulate periods, decrease acne and excess hair growth by regulating sex hormones. This will all increase chances of conception. I use homeopathy with all of my PCOS patients especially if they are trying to conceive. They also will not interact with any medications or hormones you are on, so they can be taken during fertility treatments as well. Unlike birth control pills, they will not simply mask your symptoms, but will help rebalance your hormones. Because homeopathy is holistic in nature and treats the whole body, if you are suffering from other chronic problems, such as PMS, headaches, anxiety, depression or fatigue, these issues may also be alleviated with homeopathic treatment. It is best done by a practitioner that knows homeopathy well and can find the correct match based on your individualized symptoms. It is a very individualized approach. Once the best remedy is chosen, that remedy will help stimulate the self healing process, regulating hormones and in turn, eliminating symptoms.
Other Natural treatments
Although homeopathy is extremely helpful in helping regulate PCOS, it cannot effectively help weight loss that is associated with it. This is why exercise and diet are very important components. Since people with PCOS are often insulin resistant, eating a balanced diet that helps regulate sugars is vital to treatment. Diets that tend to work best for this are whole food, high protein, low carbohydrate diets. Unprocessed proteins and fresh produce are the mainstays of treatment. Processed foods, grains and sugar should be limited. Increasing ground flaxseeds in the diet can also bind to excess hormones and help regulate hormone levels. A good diet and exercise will also help prevent other health problems such as: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Even a small amount of weight loss (8-10 lbs) will help with hormonal regulation.
There are also other hormone regulating herbs, vitamins and minerals that can help with the treatment of PCOS. Herbs such as: nettles root, chase tree extract, fenugreek, saw palmetto, green tea, licorice, and rhodiola can help balance the hormones in PCOS. Inositol, chromium, cinnamon, berberine and gymnema can be used in order to regulate blood sugar. Vitamin D and calcium have also been found to regulate menstruation and fertility. Finally, for women with absent periods, using oral micronized natural progesterone or progesterone creams during part of the cycle can help bring on a menstrual cycle. This can also protect the uterus from estrogen dominance as women with PCOS have a greater risk of endometrial cancer caused by increased thickening of the endometrial lining caused by elevated estrogen levels
Patient Testimonials:
“I could fill pages and pages of how Dr. Ham changed my life. She is my guardian angel and a miracle worker, as she was called by one of her colleagues. I have been seeing Dr. Ham for almost two years now and cannot even express all the amazing things she has done for me to improve my health. She has addressed my health on so many levels to improve my quality of life including hormonal issues, gut issues, weight loss, anxiety, food allergies, and acne, just to name a few.”
“Dr. Ham took my case of PCOS right from the beginning, without any hesitation, and gave me the confidence that I could take control of my health again and my dream of being a mommy would come true, even when other doctors told me otherwise. She encouraged me to start big changes in my lifestyle, and her treatment of homeopathic remedies and various supplements changed me completely. She was always available within a day, even by email, just to make sure any adjustments to treatment were prompt. Her treatment strategies have been very effective, as varied as home therapies, diet plans, and homeopathic remedies tailored perfectly to my needs. These went a long way, improving my hormonal panel and blood sugar, and erasing my anxiety, which was our focus.”
“I had a follow-up visit after 8 months of treatment and shared with Dr. Ham my BIG news that I was carrying a little miracle. That moment for me was so special, seeing my doctor so emotional and so genuinely happy for me. With her help, my pregnancy was very easy and I ended up delivering a very healthy baby girl of almost 10 lbs. After my delivery, my health took a 180 degree turn, leaving me with vertigo and being extremely sick again. As Dr. Ham is so dedicated to her patients and genuinely cares, she stepped in again and prioritized my health issues in her schedule, assuring me that I would be able to recover. She showed empathy and encouragement throughout my recovery journey, and I’m sure she has for countless others as well. She is an expert in her field and a Genius naturopath!”
