What to do if you have polycystic ovaries and don’t have menstruation?

Irregular menstruation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome can be intervened by adjusting lifestyle, drug treatment, traditional Chinese medicine conditioning, weight control, and regular monitoring. Polycystic ovary syndrome is usually caused by endocrine disorders, insulin resistance, genetic factors, metabolic abnormalities, mental stress and other reasons.

1. Adjust your lifestyle

Maintaining a regular schedule can help improve endocrine disorders. It is recommended to sleep for 7-8 hours a day. Reduce the intake of high-sugar and high-fat diet, increase the proportion of whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and the daily dietary fiber intake is recommended to exceed 25 grams. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, such as brisk walking, swimming and other aerobic exercise, can help improve insulin sensitivity.

2. Drug treatment

Use short-acting contraceptive pills such as ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone tablets as directed by your doctor to regulate your menstrual cycle. Metformin tablets are suitable for patients with insulin resistance and can improve abnormal glucose metabolism. For those with fertility needs, clomiphene citrate capsules can be used to promote ovulation under the guidance of a doctor. Hormone levels and liver and kidney functions need to be reviewed regularly during medication.

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine Conditioning

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that polycystic ovary syndrome mostly belongs to the syndrome of kidney deficiency and phlegm stasis, and can be treated with traditional Chinese medicine that nourishes the kidney and resolves phlegm. Common prescriptions include Cangfu Daotan Pills, Guishen Pills, etc., which need to be treated by TCM doctors based on syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture selects acupuncture points such as Guanyuan and Sanyinjiao, and is treated 2-3 times a week. The effect can be observed for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. Moxibustion at Shenque point can also help warm the kidneys and boost yang.

4. Control weight

Patients with a body mass index over 24 are recommended to lose 5%-10% of their body weight through diet and exercise. Weight loss can significantly improve hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction. Adopt a low-glycemic index diet and limit total daily caloric intake to 1,200-1,500 kcal. Combined with resistance training, it can increase muscle content and increase basal metabolic rate. Some patients can resume spontaneous menstruation after weight loss.

5. Regular monitoring

Six items of sex hormones and gynecological ultrasound will be reviewed every 3-6 months to evaluate the degree of polycystic ovarian changes. Monitor fasting blood glucose and insulin levels to detect abnormalities in glucose metabolism early. Recording changes in basal body temperature can indirectly determine ovulation. For patients with long-term amenorrhea, endometrial lesions need to be prevented, and diagnostic curettage is performed if necessary.

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome should establish a long-term health management plan, maintain a balanced diet, and eat moderate amounts of soy products, nuts and other foods containing phytoestrogens. Avoid staying up late and being overly stressed. You can relieve stress through meditation, yoga and other methods. It is recommended to conduct glucose tolerance test and blood lipid examination every six months to detect metabolic abnormalities in time. If persistent amenorrhea or abnormal uterine bleeding occurs, you need to see a doctor in time to adjust the treatment plan.