PCOS, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

What you need to know about PCOS

20 June 2022

By Physician Na Yi Ting

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, also known as PCOS is one of the most common gynaecological problem faced by women, and one of the common causes of subfertility.


PCOS women normally face gynaecological problems, and it is through seeking treatment form western doctor that they found out they have PCOS.

What are the symptoms that PCOS women face?

4 common symptoms faced by PCOS women:


Irregular menses

Hirsutism

Weight gain

Having oily skin or acne breakout


Many will ask: do I have PCOS if I have the above symptoms? The answer is no.

You will have to fulfill these diagnosis criteria (2 out of 3) before you can be diagnosed as PCOS:

Interesting facts about PCOS that you may not know of:

With constant inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, it causes damages to the cells in your body, including the eggs in the ovaries, reducing the egg quality

Women has low level of testosterone which is important to maintain healthy bones, promote cognitive health and maintains sex drive. However, in PCOS women, high level of testosterone induces hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal suppression which then inhibit ovulation. 

Insulin insensitivity causes the body to secrete more insulin, and the high level of insulin in the blood which can inhibit ovulation and increase secretion of testosterone.

PCOS may sound taunting but it is not untreatable. Many women can still conceive and get regular menstruation through western and TCM intervention.

Check out these articles to know how TCM view and treat PCOS and what are the dietary and lifestyles changes recommended by Physician Na for PCOS patients.

How TCM view and treat PCOS? 

What are the dietary and lifestyles modifications recommended if I have PCOS?

Interesting facts about PCOS that you may not know of:

PCOS is associated with low grade, chronic inflammation

With constant inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, it causes damages to the cells in your body, including the eggs in the ovaries, reducing the egg quality


A high level of testosterone can inhibit ovulation, thus causing irregular periods and affect fertility

Women has low level of testosterone which is important to maintain healthy bones, promote cognitive health and maintains sex drive. However, in PCOS women, high level of testosterone induces hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal suppression which then inhibit ovulation. 


Many, if not all women with PCOS exhibit insulin resistance or insulin insensitivity

Insulin insensitivity causes the body to secrete more insulin, and the high level of insulin in the blood which can inhibit ovulation and increase secretion of testosterone.


Females born from PCOS women has an increased risk of getting PCOS

BBT Chart

What does your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) tell you about your fertility? Read this article to find out more!


Does acupuncture help with fertility?

Ever wondered how acupuncture can improve fertility? Read this article to find out more!