ask: PCOC's...Supplement's or Medication?

Hi Kraebel

Which is better depends on the person with regard to

-severity
-other medications being taken
-age
-general health
...and other variables.

Here is a video about natural supplements. The text is underneath if you can't see the video or don't wish to download a program to see it : http://www.empowher.com/media/video/video-dr-daenell-natural-supplements...

Here is more information from Empowher regarding natural treatment options :

Proposed Natural Treatments for PCOS

Inositol

The supplement inositol has shown some promise for PCOS. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 136 women were given inositol at a dose of 100 mg twice daily, while 147 were given placebo. 1 Over a period of 14 weeks, participants given inositol showed improvement in ovulation frequency as compared to those given placebo. Benefits were also seen in terms of weight loss and levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. A subsequent study of 94 PCOS patients found similar results.8 However, both of the studies were performed by the same research group. Independent confirmation will be necessary before inositol could be considered an effective treatment for PCOS.

N-acetylcysteine

The supplement N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown some promise for treatment of female infertility caused by PCOS.

A double-blind, placebo controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of NAC in 150 women with PCOS who had previously failed to respond to the fertility drug clomiphene . 2 Participants were given clomiphene plus placebo or clomiphene plus 1.2 grams daily of NAC. The results indicated that combined treatment with NAC plus clomiphene was dramatically more effective than clomiphene taken with placebo. Almost 50% of the women in the combined treatment group ovulated as compared to about 1% in the clomiphene alone group. Pregnancy rate in the combined treatment group was 21%, as compared to 0% in the clomiphene alone group.

However, partially negative results were seen in another study. This trial compared NAC at a dose of 1.8 grams daily against the drug metformin in 61 infertile women with PCOS who had, as in the above study, failed to respond to clomiphine. 7 NAC proved far less effective than the drug at inducing ovulation; nonetheless, the data from this study do not rule out a possibility that NAC provided at least some slight benefit.

Other Treatments

The herb cinnamon has shown some promise as a treatment for diabetes. On this basis, it has been tried in PCOS. In a very small placebo-controlled study, it appeared to improve insulin sensitivity.

The supplement chromium has shown also promise for improving insulin sensitivity, and on this basis, it has been tried as a treatment for PCOS. However, in a small pilot study, use of chromium at 200 mcg daily did not have a positive effect in PCOS.

A mixture of B-vitamins has shown some promise for improving pregnancy rates in people with PCOS.

Green tea has also been tried in PCOS, but the one small published study failed to show benefit of any kind.

With regard to medication - the birth control pills help many women with PCOS, Flutamide or clomiphene citrate. Your doctor can go over these options with you.

Does this help?

Thanks again...Just trying to get some info befor I go to the Dr in the AM. I will update you. Thanks again!

Susan provided some great information, and since you are going to the doctor's in the morning, here is another great resource that discusses supplements and medical treatment options:

PCOSupport Association

I hope you will keep us updated...good luck at the doctor's tomorrow!

I updated my story...please check it out :)