CONCLUSION: This finding indicates that wen-jing-tang is appropriate for use in treating PCOS in women with various constitutions (as determined by the matching theory of eight-principle pattern identification) in clinical practice and may prove to be a potent therapeutic agent with a wide therapeutic spectrum.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of switching therapy to wen-jing-tang (unkei-to) from previous selected herbal preparations on endocrine levels and induction of ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Sixty-four anovulatory women diagnosed with PCOS were enrolled in the study. After Kampo diagnosis, subjects received matched Kampo preparations (43 cases: dang-gui-shao-yao-san, 21 cases: gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan) selected by the matching theory of eight-principle pattern identification and Kampo diagnosis based on concepts of the qi, blood, and fluids as the physiologic activity. Fifty-four women who failed to ovulate after an 8-week treatment were randomly allocated to continuation of treatment with the preceding Kampo prescription (continuation group, n = 27) or treatment with wen-jing-tang (switching group, n = 27). Plasma FSH, LH and estradiol levels were measured and ovulation rates were determined at the beginning and after an 8-week treatment with the preceding Kampo prescription, as well as after the subsequent 8-week treatment with the same preparation or wen-jing-tang. No decrease in mean plasma LH level was observed in the 54 women who failed to ovulate among the 64 treated with a Kampo preparation. After the 8-week treatment with wen-jing-tang, plasma LH levels were decreased by 58.2% (p < 0.0001) and 49.4% (p = 0.0005) in the groups switched from dang-gui-shao-yao-san and gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan, respectively. In the group switched from dang-gui-shao-yao-san, a tendency towards increase in plasma estradiol level was observed (1.51-fold, p = 0.055), which was significant compared with that in the group switched from gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan (p = 0.032). The ovulation rate with switching of treatment to wen-jing-tang was significantly higher (59.3%) than that with continued use of the same preparation (7.4%, p = 0.0036). This study confirmed that wen-jing-tang was effective in improving endocrine condition in the treatment of disturbances of ovulation in patients with PCOS without taking eight-principle pattern identification into consideration.

Ushiroyama T, Hosotani T, Mori K, Yamashita Y, Ikeda A, Ueki M. - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan. gyn003@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp

CONCLUSION: Repeated EA treatments induce regular ovulations in more than one third of the women with PCOS. The group of women with good effect had a less androgenic hormonal profile before treatment and a less pronounced metabolic disturbance compared with the group with no effect. For this selected group EA offers an alternative to pharmacological ovulation induction.

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to evaluate if electro-acupuncture (EA) could affect oligo-/anovulation and related endocrine and neuroendocrine parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS: Twenty-four women (between the ages of 24 and 40 years) with PCOS and oligo-/amenorrhea were included in this non-randomized, longitudinal, prospective study. The study period was defined as the period extending from 3 months before the first EA treatment, to 3 months after the last EA treatment (10-14 treatments), in total 8-9 months. The menstrual and ovulation patterns were confirmed by recording of vaginal bleedings and by daily registrations of the basal body temperature (BBT). Blood samples were collected within a week before the first EA, within a week after the last EA and 3 months after EA.

RESULTS: Nine women (38%) experienced a good effect. They displayed a mean of 0.66 ovulations/woman and month in the period during and after the EA period compared to a mean of 0.15 before the EA period (p=0.004). Before EA, women with a good effect had a significantly lower body-mass index (BMI) (p<0.001), waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR) (p=0.0058), serum testosterone concentration (p=0.0098), serum testosterone/sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) ratio (p=0.011) and serum basal insulin concentration (p=0.0054), and a significantly higher concentration of serum SHBG (p=0.040) than did those women with no effect.

Stener-Victorin E, Waldenström U, Tägnfors U, Lundeberg T, Lindstedt G, Janson PO. Source: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Göteborg University, Sweden.

Physical activity is also paramount when women with PCOS are wishing to restore balance to their menstrual cycle and optimize fertility. We recommend the Yinstill PCOS Exercise Program.

Set out specific 1. goals, so we can monitor progress. These would always relate to the woman's main complaint and the top 3-5 changes in lifestyle or key signs and symptoms that when balanced/augmented will facilitate the manifestation of regulated cycles, reduced associated symptoms, or pregnancy and family. Ideally, our main goal is to see three healthy regular menstrual cycles before trying to conceive. When the recommended plan and lifestyle changes are deeply committed to, three healthy regular menstrual cycles and pregnancy are often achieved within a 6-12 month treatment period. Additional & more specific treatment goals are most often to get more quality sleep, reduce stress, lose weight, regulate blood sugar/insulin levels, reduce levels of circulating androgens, estrogens, & luteinizing hormone, manage acne, eliminate excess hair growth, promote regular ovulation & cycles, optimize overall reproductive health, reduce chances of miscarriage and aid in carrying pregnancy to term. Continued evaluation of treatment efficacy is achieved via observation and improvement of these goals and specific signs & symptoms associated to each individual case.

Electro-Acupuncture is administered once per week until the 12th week of pregnancy. According to current research on PCOS, electro-acupuncture helps induce regular ovulation in more than one third of women with PCOS. The patient population within this demographic which acupuncture has the greatest effect had a less androgenic hormonal profile before treatment and a less pronounced metabolic disturbance. For these women, electro-acupuncture offers an alternative to pharmacological ovulation induction. Because chances of miscarriage are higher in women with PCOS, it is also recommended that your husband receive acupuncture and/or herbal treatment to help optimize his sperm and reduce its role in the possibility of pregnancy loss.

Avoid toxins in your environment that are known to disrupt hormonal balance which are major contributors to conditions such as PCOS. Basically; avoid or completely eliminate the use of;

This is an important area to focus on. Losing just a small amount of weight and exercising regularly helps restore fertility in most women with PCOS.