Polycystic ovary syndrome: a Chinese medicine perspective
25 Nov
Dr Donna Dupre, L.Ac., DAOM has been practicing in the Burbank, CA area since 2000. She graduated from SAMRA University in 2000 with a Masters of Oriental Medicine degree. Donna earned her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in 2007. Prior to going into private practice, Donna was a staff acupuncturist at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she treated cancer patients in collaboration with staff oncologists and radiologists. Married to Marc for over 25 years, they have one son, AJ. In her free time Donna enjoys exercise, watching her son play baseball, is involved in community health awareness and is an active member in AIMS (Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine Specialists).
Diagnosis
Stein and Leventhal first described Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in 1935 (1), and much has been learned about PCOS since that time. PCOS affects 4% to 12% of women of reproductive age, and is associated with 75% of women suffering from infertility due to anovulation (2). Due to the fact that there is such a wide range of symptoms associated with PCOS, getting a clear diagnosis can be confusing and treatment options can be daunting. This paper will look at the diagnosis and treatment of PCOS from both a Western Medical perspective and a TCM perspective. Studies have shown that TCM is effective in the treatment of PCOS and early diagnosis improves prognosis. Having an understanding of the Western Medical physiology and the ability to effectively translate the signs and symptoms into TCM diagnosis and treatment has shown to be very effective in treating PCOS. (more…)
