Reflexology's Effect on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Summary
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is very common, affecting approximately 5% of women of reproductive age, and impacts not only on quality of life, but also has long-term health consequences for many sufferers, such as increased risks of developing Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer of the womb. The symptoms that may occur such as irregular periods; lots of body hair; thinning hair on scalp, obesity and infertility, can also lead to poor self-esteem. Whilst treatments can help fertility, other treatments to correct the other symptoms are less successful. Alternative methods to regulate periods would be helpful, especially ones which avoid the long-term use of steroids in patients who may already be overweight. Reflexology is poorly represented in scientific papers, with nothing published regarding reflexology and its effect upon PCOS. However patients who use reflexology report more regular periods, thicker hair on scalp and greater wellbeing. Therefore we aim to investigate the effect of reflexology on:
1. The menstruation cycle (normal being every 21-35 days).
2. Imbalances in hormone, insulin and blood sugar levels associated with PCOS.
3. Other problems associated with PCOS such as thinning hair on scalp, excessive body hair, and obesity.
4. Quality of life. Government and NHS agendas agree that if there's evidence of an effective complimentary therapy the NHS should provide it. Therefore the results may have an influence on the care pathways of patients with PCOS towards a more holistic, patient centred and empowered approach. It is also non invasive and liable to result in higher patient satisfaction regarding their treatment. This research may also inform policy makers so that complementary medicine provision is provided on a wider basis within the NHS, which at the moment is dictated by the individual Trust's budget allocation. However this research could save money overall as in America, the yearly cost of treating PCOS is $4.36 billion.
Study Design
Allocation: Randomized, Control: Historical Control, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Conditions
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Intervention
Reflexology
Location
University of Nottingham Hospitals
Nottingham
United Kingdom
NG7 2UH
Status
Not yet recruiting
Source
University of Nottingham
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00744510
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 15, 2010
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
A complex disorder characterized by infertility, HIRSUTISM; OBESITY; and various menstrual disturbances such as OLIGOMENORRHEA; AMENORRHEA; ANOVULATION. Polycystic ovary syndrome is usually associated with bilateral enlarged ovaries studded with atretic follicles, not with cysts. The term, polycystic ovary, is misleading.
Hyperandrogenism
A condition caused by the excessive secretion of ANDROGENS from the ADRENAL CORTEX; the OVARIES; or the TESTES. The clinical significance in males is negligible. In women, the common manifestations are HIRSUTISM and VIRILISM as seen in patients with POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME and ADRENOCORTICAL HYPERFUNCTION.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
A complication of OVULATION INDUCTION in infertility treatment. It is graded by the severity of symptoms which include OVARY enlargement, multiple OVARIAN FOLLICLES; OVARIAN CYSTS; ASCITES; and generalized EDEMA. The full-blown syndrome may lead to RENAL FAILURE, respiratory distress, and even DEATH. Increased capillary permeability is caused by the vasoactive substances, such as VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTORS, secreted by the overly-stimulated OVARIES.
Hermaphroditism, True
A rare condition of sexual ambiguity in which the individual possesses gonadal tissues of both SEXES, tissues from the OVARY and the TESTIS. There can be a testis on one side and an ovary on the other (lateral), or there may be combined ovarian and testicular tissue (ovotestes) on each side (bilateral). Most common karyotype is 46,XX. Others include 46,XY and 45,X/XY.
Ovary
The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.
Clinical Trials
Reflexology's Effect on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is very common, affecting approximately 5% of women of reproductive age, and impacts not only on quality of life, but also has long-term health consequence...
Simvastatin Therapy in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether statins (simvastatin) improve clinical (excessive hair, skin problems), endocrine (androgens) and metabolic (lipids, markers of systemic i...
Adipocytokines and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Inflammation may play a role in the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, the investigators investigated the expression of different mediators of inflammation in...
Safety of Hormonal Contraceptives Therapies in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Patients
The purpose of this study to assess early markers of cardiovascular disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome in use of oral contraceptive containing ethynilestradiol and chlormadino...
Diamel in the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of Diamel administration in the treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The duration of this double-blind placebo controlled phase 3 cli...
PubMed Articles
This study was conducted in Turkish patients with polycystic ovary syndrome to determine the frequency of I/D polymorphism genotypes of angiotensin converting enzyme gene, and to examine the role of t...
Polycystic ovary syndrome in 2011: Genes, aging and sleep apnea in polycystic ovary syndrome.
Clinical variability in approaches to polycystic ovary syndrome.
The objective of this study was to evaluate methods of initial diagnosis and management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among members of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gyn...
To evaluate whether there are any differences in bone mineral density (BMD) between normal weight and obese adolescents suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with oligo/amenorrhea.
Objectives: The role of metformin in the treatment of pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome is controversial. Therefore, we evaluated whether the use of metformin during pregnancy in women wit...
