35 - PCOS: trying to conceive for 10 months

Female, 35 years old

Western diagnosis: Infertility caused by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) with insulin resistance. Thyroid is normal.

Family history: Diabetes and Cancer.

Other current health conditions: Asthma, headaches, sleep apnea, jaw pain.

Case History: She experiences a regular cycle that lasts 28-31 days. Her menses usually last about 8 days; day 1 is spotting, the next 2-3 days are heavier, and the last 3-5 days are very light. The blood is thick with stringy mucus, sometimes dark or purple-brown, and contains clots around days 2-4. She experiences cramping pain that is worse with massage on day 1 and 2 that is relieved once the clots are passed. Pre-menstrual symptoms include cramps, acne, headaches, moodiness, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. She feels ovulation pains and reports stretchy clear fertile vaginal mucus approx. 75% of her cycles. She has taken a total of 8 years of oral contraceptives, but has not been on them for over 2 years at present. She also reported some white watery vaginal discharge, other than around ovulation. She has never been pregnant. Her partner is supportive of the decision to conceive, her sex drive is normal, she does yoga 3 times per week, has a stressful job, and is more than 20% over her ideal bodyweight. Other symptoms include low back soreness, ringing in the ears, premature graying of hair, hot flashes, sometimes scanty vaginal mucous around ovulation, cold feet especially at night, urgent loose bowel movements early in the morning, pre-menstrual lower back pain, fatigue, general loose stool that tends to be urgent, cold hands but body feels warm, feels heavy in the limbs, foggy thoughts, bruises easily, poor circulation, prone to over-think, get light headed when get up too quickly, dry flaky skin, chapped lips, brittle nails, hair loss, poor night vision, numbness of the hands and feet on the left side, red hemangiomas spots on skin, prone to depression, irritability, wake early in the morning and have trouble getting back to sleep, palpitations, diminished spirit, restless and fidgety, dry throat, thirsty for cold drinks, feel warmer that others around her, night sweats. Tongue was generally pale with a purple hint in the body with teethmarks. Her pulse generally displayed deep and slippery qualities.

Chinese Disease categories: Infertility, menstrual movement pain (PMS), painful periods, diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia, back pain.

Treatment outcome: Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese herbal treatments were administered for 13 weeks, at which time she called to inform of a positive pregnancy test.

Notes: just 2 weeks before conception, she had made a major decision to make a positive transformation in her life relating to her work environment.

By: Dr. Spence Pentland