How Ayurvedic treatments can balance your hormones

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

- DR TAMLYN GOVENDER

POLYCYSTIC ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting approximately 6% to 13% of women of reproductive age worldwide. It can develop during adolescence or soon after menarche; around 15% to 20% of infertile women have a PCOS diagnosis.

Conventional treatments involve hormonal therapy if they are trying to conceive; oral contraceptive pills are often prescribed to regulate menstrual cycles, reduce androgen levels, and manage symptoms like acne and hir-sutism, or metformin to address insulin resistance.

Ayurvedic medicine offers a holistic and natural approach to address the root cause of hormonal imbalance and metabolic dysfunction. PCOS can significantly impact fertility, metabolic health, psychological and emotional well-being.

The following signs and symptoms characterise this disorder

@ Irregular menstrual cycles.

Menstrual abnormalities in the form of less menstrual bleeding (hypomenorrhea), absence of menstrual bleeding (amenorrhea), or abnormally high and irregular bleeding (menorrhagia, metrorrhagia and menometrorrhagia).

@ Hyperandrogenism and hair loss (due to excess male hormones).

@ Infertility.

@ Acne.

@ Obesity.

@ Blackish discolouration of the skin around the nape of the neck, inner thighs and axilla (Acanthosis nigricans).

PCOS is diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria, which requires at least two of the following:

@ Irregular or absent ovulation (oligo-ovulation or anovulation).

@ Clinical or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism (for example, hirsutism, acne or elevated testosterone levels).

@ Polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (12 or more follicles in one ovary or increased ovarian volume).

Pathophysiology of PCOS in Ayurveda