A Review of the Gut-Uterine Axis in Persian Medicine Literature: Implications in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Persian medicine (PM) takes a holistic approach towards diagnosis and management of disease states, focusing on the connections between body systems and organs. Menstrual disorders are of utmost importance in women, as they may lead to dysfunctions in other body systems. Deeming a mutual relationship between the gastrointestinal and female reproductive systems, PM physicians believed in a gut-uterine axis to exist. Ehtebas-e Tams (ET), meaning menstrual retention, is not an exception, being accompanied by gastrointestinal morbidities including digestive disorders, nausea, heartburn, food craving and pica, reduced appetite, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea. Considering polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as an instance of ET, we searched studies to investigate these correlations. While a number of the mentioned ET symptoms were confirmed by contemporary studies, others had not been investigated widely and are yet to be elucidated. Conducting studies to clarify such correlations has implications in improved diagnosis and novel modes of treatment.