When you decide that you are ready to have a family, you want to understand how best to support your fertility. And, if you have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), then you know that you may need some extra help and education to give yourself the best opportunity. In this blog, we will review the current research for Chinese herbal medicine and PCOS related fertility issues. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is around 3000 years old and involves individual herbal powders that synergised together to create formulas to be decocted and taken as a tea. In Australia polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects 12-21% of reproductive-aged women (Rababa’h et al., […]
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is considered to be the most common endocrine abnormality in women of reproductive age (Azziz, Woods, Reyna, Key, Knochenhauer, & Yildiz, 2004; Costello, Shrestha, Eden, Johnson, & Moran, 2010). Normal ovulation relies upon selection of a follicle that becomes ‘dominant’ and ovulates (Balen, 2000). In women with PCOS there are multiple small cysts which contain potentially viable oocytes yet with dysfunctional follicles.The current recommended definition (ESHRE/ASRM, 2003) diagnose PCOS when a woman has two of the following; oligo- or anovulation, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and/or polycystic ovaries (with the exclusion of other aetiologies). Clinically the presentation can include infrequent or light menstruation, infertility, hirsutism and acne […]
Period Pain (Dysmenorrhea)
Dysmenorrhea can be debilitating and is considered the most common gynaecological condition in women regardless of age and nationality (Proctor & Farquhar, 2006). Dysmenorrhea is classified as ‘primary dysmenorrhea’ where the symptoms cannot be explained by structural gynaecological disorders and ‘secondary dysmenorrhea’ where the symptoms are due to pelvic abnormalities (The Merck Manual, 2011). Symptoms can include cramping pain in the lower abdomen with pain radiating to the lower back, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and fatigue (Hillen, Grbavac, Johnston, Straton, & Keogh, 1999). It was first noted by Pickles in 1965 (Hillen et al., 1999) that the pain of dysmenorrhea is thought to be from uterine contractions and ischemia in […]