“An ultrasound of my ovaries showed many of cysts on both, blood work showed very high levels of Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and my irregular periods also aligned with the condition. When the doctor confirmed that I have quite a severe form of PCOS and that I would absolutely need IVF to become pregnant. I was happy to finally have a diagnosis, yet sad to realize that I would need a lot more blood tests, ultrasounds, and many hormone injections to conceive. Plus, the financial costs of IVF terrified me.”
Read MoreBy; Vivian Phan
Learn more about the different approaches to wellness and healthcare as observed and researched by Genomics Correspondent, Vivian Phan, after her visit to Bali to study their community health systems.
“Holistic healthcare is defined as an approach to wellness that considers the multidimensional aspects of life... A key issue with holistic healthcare in the US is that most of the research conducted on health has been focused on people’s thoughts about illness instead of the mindset surrounding holistic and preventative care... In comparison to the average US resident, Balinese people are highly spiritual and their spirituality is heavily associated with their environment. Moreover, in Indonesian culture, one’s spirituality is often translated into one’s approach towards healthcare…Understanding the significance of cultural practices and traditions is crucial in addressing health imbalances.”
Read MoreRead MoreWhat led to my diagnosis with dysautonomia?: Ten years, over 100 vials of blood, two Holter monitors, two sleep studies, two MRIs of the brain, two colonoscopies, a barium swallow, two neurologists, a migraine specialist, sinus surgery, four GI doctors, three physical therapists, two primary care physicians, three allergists, a cardiologist, and finally, an electrophysiologist and a tilt table test are what it took to get my dysautonomia diagnosis at age 25.