Reproductive Medicine Network Launches Clinical Trials

December 7th, 2009

The Reproductive Medicine Network (RMN) has today announced plans to launch a series of clinical trials and participants are needed.

The trials will focus on four areas: Female Infertility, Male Infertility, IVF (in vitro fertilization) and multiple gestations as a result of ovarian stimulation.

The RMN study for female infertility will address women with PCOS. It’s goal is to determine the efficacy of various medications designed to aid in conception and live birth outcomes.

The trials will include 750 female participants, 100 of which will visit the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. (Interested Michigan-based women  may contact Linda Vandell, 734-998-4973 email: vandelll@umich.edu.)

For further information on the study addressing infertile women, visit:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00719186

 

 

For additional information on the trials in general:

http://c2s2.yale.edu/rmn/

 

 

An interesting piece of information, the Reproductive Medicine Network was founded in 1989 and funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Posted in Empowering Ourselves, Fertility, Insulin Resistance, Medication, Research | 4 Comments »

New Swedish research shows acupuncture may help PCOS

November 28th, 2009

Well-known doctor and author, Andrew Weil, reports on new research from Sweden indicating that acupuncture may “ease” PCOS by normalizing menstruation and lowering testosterone levels in women with the condition.

As first reported in the American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, some women with PCOS showed high activity in the sympathetic nervous system, a part of the body that we cannot control. This could prove to be an underlying factor in PCOS.

Women who received regular acupuncture and those who excercised showed decreased activity in the sympathetic nervous system. Menstruation also improved among women receiving acupuncture.

To read more about the study in Dr. Weil’s daily blog:

http://www.drweilblog.com/home/2009/11/27/acupuncture-may-ease-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome.html

Posted in Empowering Ourselves, Exercise, Hormone imbalance, Insulin Resistance, Living with PCOS, Menstruation, Research | Add a Comment »

Women with PCOS Needed for OHSU Study (Oregon)

November 17th, 2009

Women volunteers with PCOS are needed for a study undertaken by OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University).

The research,  by the University’s Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, will focus on the effects of insulin resistance on cortisol production, testosterone levels, and body composition.

Healthy, non-smoking women with PCOS, aged between 18 and 45, may call to find out if they qualify for the study which offers compensation of $800 for three clinical visits.

Please contact Principal Investigator Bethany Klopfenstein MD at 503-494-4020 for further information.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/com/1469514806.html

Posted in Hormone imbalance, Insulin Resistance, Research | 1 Comment »

Spearmint Tea for PCOS Hirsutism?

November 2nd, 2009

The lastest editon of PCOS Review discusses a second study that shows a positive link between spearmint tea and hirsuitsm (excess hair) in women with PCOS.

Of 42 women with PCOS who were studied at the UK’s Eastbourne District General Hospital – one group had spearmint tea 2x a day and the others a placebo – the group taking tea showed a reduction in  testosterone.

The same women reported a reduction in hirsutism, although no change was found in an objective measure of hair.

Regardless, spearmint tea has shown to be beneficial in women with testosterone issues. We join PCOS Review in calling for further research.

To read more:

http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/news92.html#sec2

Posted in Empowering Ourselves, Hair loss & growth, Hormone imbalance, Insulin Resistance, Research | Add a Comment »