Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a problem that can happen to women during their reproductive years. This condition might cause you to have very few periods a year, and you might also experience a variety of other secondary problems like weight gain or weight loss and complications such as diabetes and heart disease.
The symptoms of PCOS are:
Some patients start experiencing symptoms at the time of their first menstrual period. Other patients do not develop symptoms until later in life. A diagnosis of PCOS requires that at least two of the above symptoms be present.
The causes of this condition are not well-understood. It is likely that this condition is linked to insulin resistance or consistent low-grade inflammation in the body. Heredity also plays a role in this condition, and if you have family members with PCOS, you are much more likely to get it as well. Having excess androgen is also a key factor in this condition for most patients.
The risk factors for PCOS are:
Diagnosis requires that a patient’s full medical history be taken. The doctor will ask about the various symptoms that were mentioned above. If the patient displays two or more of those symptoms, they will be diagnosed with PCOS. This diagnosis is also usually confirmed by a pelvic exam or pelvic ultrasound and blood tests that look at your androgen levels and your blood sugar.
Prevention of this condition is not typically possible. Since heredity is involved in the condition, it is not usually possible to avoid getting PCOS.
Treatment of PCOS usually involves lifestyle changes. Patients are placed on a low-calorie diet and provided with an exercise plan. Losing weight can help improve the effectiveness of PCOS medications and other treatments related to this condition.
Combination birth control can help to give patients the oestrogen that their body is not creating and to control and initiate normal menstrual cycles. Progestin therapy might also be used to help regulate the periods and to protect the patient from endometrial cancer.
For those struggling to get pregnant, fertility drugs like clomiphene and letrozole might be given. Metformin can be used to help control insulin levels and prevent the onset of diabetes as well. Gonadotropins might also be used to help create normal hormone responses in the body.