33 - PCOS, pregnant after Clomid failed to promote ovulation

33 year old woman in sales. Trying to conceive for 4 years. Cysts were found on her ovaries using ultrasound, indicating that she was not ovulating very frequently. She also had excessive hair growth and hair thinning, which confirmed the presence of excess androgens. This woman was thus given the diagnosis of Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Her western doctors put her on metformin, a diabetic drug to control insulin, but her liver enzymes became too elevated and so she had to stop. She then had the added diagnosis of fatty liver, another common complaint of women with PCOS. She tried Chlomiphene to help induce ovulation, but without success. She was then told by her physician that IVF may be her only option, but since she was overweight at 285 pounds she would have to lose weight first. Menstrual history: She received menarche at age 13. Put on the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) two years later because menstrual irregularities. She stayed on this for 14 years, coming off it to try and conceive a child. She did not have any menstruation for one year after stopping the OCP. She then would spot for upwards of 4 months at a time. This is when they made the diagnosis of PCOS. Her menses have since been very delayed and sometimes uses prometrium to help indue one. She will suffer with menstrual cramping and clotting.  General Health: Overweight. She smoked about half a pack of cigerettes a day. Her work was very stressful, leaving her depressed and irritable.

This woman was able to lose a significant amount of weight via dietary changes and exercise. She received acupuncture one time a week for about 10 weeks, while taking a daily herbal formula to course the Liver, rectify the Qi,  invigorate the blood, clear heat, drain damp, transform phlegm, and supplement kidney yang. 

This women responded very well to the treatments, having two regular menstrual cycles within the first 3 months of treatment. She claimed that she had never had this before. She was also able to finally stop smoking within the first month of treatments. On her third cycle she decided to try clomid along with the Chinese herbs (patient had some left over from a previous time and decided to take it herself). In that cycle she became pregnant. At 12 weeks, she was still doing fine.