Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a leading cause of infertility in the world. Having PCOS does not mean a childless future; there are treatment options available to women suffering from this condition.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition where a woman has problems in her endocrine system. Some estimations say that as much as 10% of all women have this syndrome in one form or another. It is common that the first symptoms of PCOS appear at the beginning of the reproductive years of a girl. It is important to diagnose PCOS early, before it cause more severe symptoms, such as infertility.
What Are The Symptoms?
It can be rather difficult to perceive PCOS. Sometimes the symptoms are so minor that the syndrome can develop for years, and it is detected only after the woman goes to infertility clinic to seek help for her difficulties to conceive. However, there are also other symptoms of PCOS which include:
– Overweight.
– Hair growth in areas that are typical for men, but not for women. These include, for instance, chin and chest.
– Thinning of the hair.
– Irregular menstrual cycle, or in some cases, absence of period. Sometimes heavy bleeding during a period.
– Depression.
How To Diagnose PCOS?
When a doctor suspects that a patient is suffering from PCOS symptoms, before making the diagnosis, he will take into consideration the patient’s complaints. The doctor will also observe some of the outward signs that PCOS might be at work, such as unusual hair growth.
If he believes that the outward signs and the symptoms described by the patient might be PCOS, he will normally order medical tests. These could include:
– Blood test (at least your thyroid, insulin, and hormone levels will be tested).
– Ultrasound examination to detect any cysts on your ovaries.
Despite the name, polycystic ovarian syndrome, a woman does not necessarily have to have polycystic ovaries to have the syndrome. Often, diagnosis can be made without having an ultrasound, based on the severity of the symptoms.
How Is PCOS Treated?
Diet and exercise play an important role in controlling PCOS. Statistics show that excessive weight exacerbates PCOS symptoms. Since PCOS often leads to insulin resistance and ultimately diabetes type 2, it is important to adjust the diet to help with this. An approved diabetic diet, low in refined carbohydrates and heart healthy is preferred.
Sometimes a regular medication is required. Typical example is contraceptive pills. They can help to normalize a woman’s menstrual cycle. Drugs that reduce androgen levels can also be prescribed. These can offer relief for unusual hair growth and/or acne. One other common medication is metformin, which is often used to treat diabetes. However, it is beneficial also for women suffering from PCOS symptoms.
PCOS is a very common disorder all around the world. Even though you have been diagnosed with PCOS, it doesn’t have to affect too much to your life. With a proper medication and lifestyle changes the condition can be kept under control.
Read more about polycystic ovary syndrome by visiting PCOSandFibroids.com. Besides PCOS, the site offers other ovarian cyst related information, such as ruptured ovarian cyst symptoms and treatment.