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I'm not ovulating well, how can I have a baby?

"I need to have a baby, but they say I'm not ovulating well." This is a sentiment expressed by many women diagnosed with infertility. As the earnestness for a beloved baby grows, hearing that ovulation is not smooth along with an irregular menstrual cycle naturally leads to a deep sigh of helplessness. Especially if diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the pregnancy preparation process itself can feel difficult, not just irregular periods. You must have many concerns about when natural pregnancy will be possible and what kind of treatment to receive.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of "not ovulating well": ① Hormonal Imbalance (PCOS) / ② Decreased Ovarian Function / ③ Metabolic Abnormality (Insulin Resistance) Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic helps with healthy pregnancy by restoring the autonomic ovulation function of the ovaries through Constitutional Improvement.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder commonly seen in women of childbearing age, characterized by seeing several small follicle sacs along the edge of the ovary. The core problem of this disease is 'chronic anovulation'. In normal cases, one follicle matures and ovulates every month, but in PCOS, follicles do not grow properly and stay in the ovary in an immature state, making ovulation not work well. This occurs due to complex causes such as disruption of the hormonal axis leading from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland to the ovary, i.e., excessive secretion of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) or increased insulin resistance leading to more male hormones. This hormonal imbalance interferes with the normal function of the ovary and, as a result, becomes a big obstacle in preparing for pregnancy.

Yes, herbal treatment can have a positive effect on improving ovulation disorders due to PCOS and increasing pregnancy rates. While Western medicine's contraceptive pills or ovulation induction agents are a way to forcibly regulate the menstrual cycle or induce ovulation by injecting hormones from the outside, herbal treatment focuses on helping the ovaries regain healthy ovulation function on their own by restoring the body's fundamental balance.

In a systematic literature review and meta-analysis study published in the 「Journal of Clinical Medicine」 in 2022, the effect of herbal treatment on ovulation induction in women with PCOS was reviewed. This study analyzed 12 randomized controlled trials including a total of 918 participants and concluded that herbal treatment significantly improved the ovulation rate compared to the placebo or no-treatment group (Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.65; 95% CI: 2.16-6.19; p < 0.001) and also significantly increased the pregnancy rate (OR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.87-4.47; p < 0.001). The researchers explained that herbal medicine has a positive effect on ovulation and pregnancy success by restoring ovarian function and regulating hormonal balance.

In addition, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on clinical research trends of PCOS herbal treatment published in the 「The Journal of Oriental Obstetrics & Gynecology」 in 2021 analyzed 22 clinical studies. This study reported that various herbal treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion showed significant effects on menstrual cycle regularity, ovulation rate, and improvement of hormone profiles such as LH, FSH, and testosterone in PCOS patients. The researchers emphasized that Korean medicine treatment contributes to normalizing ovarian function by regulating endocrine and metabolic functions. These studies suggest that fundamental treatment through 'constitutional improvement' aimed for by Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic can play an important role in healthy ovulation and pregnancy for PCOS patients.

Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic focuses on the treatment principle of 'Constitutional Improvement' to overcome ovulation disorders due to PCOS and help with healthy pregnancy. The goal is not to temporarily turn off symptoms, but to make a body that maintains health on its own and does not turn on the disease again.

In Korean medicine, the causes of PCOS are largely seen in two ways. The first is the weakening of the fundamental power that makes the ovarian function itself weak, i.e., weakness of 'Kidney (腎)' function. This means that ovarian function becomes weak and hormone secretion is not smooth due to excessive stress, chronic fatigue, irregular lifestyle habits, etc., leading to ovulation disorders. The second is 'metabolic waste' that accumulates in the body due to wrong eating habits, etc., i.e., 'Phlegm-Damp (濕痰)'. Excessive consumption of oily and sweet food, spicy and salty food, etc., causes digestive function to drop, and the waste generated from this interferes with microcirculation around the uterus and ovaries, deepening hormonal imbalance and hindering follicle growth.

At Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Incheon Branch, we precisely diagnose individual constitutions and symptoms according to these causes and strengthen ovarian function and improve the uterine environment through customized herbal medicine prescriptions. Through this, we correct hormonal imbalance and make follicle growth and ovulation healthy by facilitating blood circulation. At the same time, we manage metabolic abnormalities, one of the main causes of PCOS, by helping improve insulin resistance. This constitutional improvement treatment does not just aim for ovulation, but focuses on providing a healthy pregnancy environment for both mother and baby by restoring overall health. This is a very important part for women preparing for pregnancy, and many people looking for an Incheon infertility Korean medicine clinic send trust to this approach of Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic.

Check the number of corresponding items among the following.

• The menstrual cycle is long, more than 35 days, or menstruation occurs less than 8 times a year.
• If contraceptive pills are stopped, menstruation becomes irregular again or stops.
• There are symptoms such as acne for no known reason, hirsutism (more hair on the body), or hair loss.
• Weight increases easily, and especially abdominal obesity is prominent.
• Diagnosed with infertility or natural pregnancy has not worked well for more than a year.
• Heard that several small follicles are observed in the ovary during an ultrasound exam.
• There is a family history of PCOS or diabetes.

Judgment Criteria:

• If 3 or more apply: PCOS suspected and high possibility of decreased ovarian function → Review Korean medicine precision diagnosis and constitutional improvement treatment
• If 5 or more apply: A stage requiring active management → Immediate visit to Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic, an Incheon infertility Korean medicine clinic, for consultation recommended

Q. Is natural pregnancy possible even with PCOS? A. Yes, even if diagnosed with PCOS, if ovarian ovulation function is restored and the menstrual cycle is stabilized through herbal treatment, natural pregnancy can be sufficiently planned. The important thing is to actively treat and manage it along with the woman's age.

Q. Is regulating menstruation with contraceptive pills helpful for pregnancy preparation? A. Contraceptive pills are a way to forcibly match the menstrual cycle by suppressing ovulation, so it is general to stop contraceptive pills if preparing for pregnancy. Taking contraceptive pills, a surprising change, can rather slow down the autonomic functional recovery of the ovaries, so treatment for fundamental ovulation functional recovery is necessary.

Q. How long do I need to take PCOS herbal medicine to see an effect? A. There is a difference depending on the individual's constitution and the severity of symptoms, but it is generally recommended to receive steady treatment for 3 to 6 months or more. Sufficient time is needed for ovarian functional recovery and hormonal balance regulation, and lifestyle management for recurrence prevention after treatment is important.

Q. I have severe irregular menstruation along with PCOS, can they be treated together? A. Yes, because one of the core symptoms of PCOS is irregular menstruation (amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, etc.), PCOS treatment is synonymous with the process of solving the fundamental cause of irregular menstruation and regaining a normal menstrual cycle. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic approaches and treats both symptoms integrally.

Not ovulating well is not a problem that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, the body responds faster than you think. Bring your symptoms exactly as they are. We will find the cause together at Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic website first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Women/Pregnancy Treatment Standard Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Incheon Branch Oriental Doctor Min Ji-hong (PCOS Column)