The idea that when something doesn't feel right a doctor should be able to diagnose and recommend appropriate treatment is somewhat of a Utopian notion. In reality, patients are often either given the trendy diagnosis or treated as guinea pigs. The guinea pig option is risky yet, preferable, especially when it comes to dealing with fertility issues.
PCOS: The Pet Diagnosis
With infertility on the rise, polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS) has become the pet diagnosis of choice for many doctors. It is virtually impossible to prove or disprove since symptoms can vary greatly from patient to patient and some women are said to not exhibit any symptoms at all. If a woman complains about anything from acne, a lack of menstrual periods, a lack of ovulation, abnormal bleeding patterns, endometrial hyperplasia, cancer, excess hair growth, insulin resistance (problems with blood sugar regulation), very light menstrual cycles, male-pattern hair loss and fat deposition, weight gain, or infertility, they are pretty much automatically diagnosed with PCOS, without any further testing or analysis.
Medical Treatments
Since PCOS has no cure, it serves as an ideal excuse to dismiss difficult to pinpoint fertility issues. Being linked to hormonal imbalance, PCOS medical treatments typically include birth control pills to help manage the disease. Although this may address some of the symptoms it will do nothing to help couples desparately trying to get pregnant.
According to the Connecticut Center for Health, other medical treatments include: Antiandrogens (spironolactone, flutamine, cyproterone), Metformin (Glucophage) to regulate blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity, other medications may be used such as GnRH agonists and induction of ovulation, and surgical treatment including ovarian wedge resection, ovarian laser ablation, or ovarian electrocautery.
Alternative Treatments
Ironically enough, the so-called "alternative" treatments for PCOS include exercise and diet. So, patients that are experiencing issues related to their body acting wonky are advised to make a more concerted effort to treat themselves better. By becoming more active and paying attention to the foods that work well for them, regardless of how they affect their sister, mother, or best friend can be effective treatments for alleviating issues related to poor menstrual cycles, weight gain, and even fertility.
For instance, a woman may find that while eating cheese and yogurt has no adverse effect, drinking milk causes bloating and water retention issues. Conversely, drinking soy milk may help regulate cycles and improve regularity. Learning which foods can impact hormonal activity is an essential first step in learning how to manage PCOS symptoms.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Where Western medicine deals with symptoms, the traditional Chinese and homeopathic approach is to attempt to identify the causes. The Chinese believe that to deal with PCOS it is important to treat deficiencies or excesses in the kidney, liver, and spleen. According to The Accupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic of Vancouver, "the most common manifestation of PCOS is dampness and/or phlegm in the body." Typical treatments include weekly acupuncture sessions and concentrated powdered extracts of Chinese herbs.
Again, diet plays a vital role in the recommended treatment. The clinic's website offers a widely and globally accepted list of dos and don'ts:
* Cut out all forms of refined sugar
* Cut out all forms of refined carbohydrates. The body immediately turns these into sugar. This includes white bread, pasta, potatoes, white rice, most breakfast cereals, rice cakes, popcorn, or any starchy, low fiber food.
* Do not adhere to the fertility diets that advocate massive yam consumption. This can actually delay or prevent ovulation if you have PCOS.
* Avoid soda, fruit juice, and any drink which rapidly raises the blood sugar level.
* Consume adequate amounts of protein, either in vegetarian form or in the form of lean meat which has not been treated hormonally.
* Eat as many fresh vegetables as you wish.
* Eat only complex, whole grains.
* Eat fruits like berries which are not too sweet.
* Avoid milk and dairy products which tend to exacerbate the condition of internal dampness.
* Limit alcohol and caffeine.
* Increase your dietary fiber intake.
* Exercise.
