Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or Stein-Leventhal syndrome is caused by an imbalance in the hormone levels in a woman where little liquid-filled balloon like sacs called cysts get formed and enlarge in the ovaries. In this condition, high levels of luteinizing hormone are secreted by the pituitary gland, giving rise to male hormone production displaying physically in the form or coarse hair and acne.
Left undiagnosed and untreated, estrogen levels elevate from these androgens, causing endometrial cancer, which is the cancer of the uterine lining.
Development of PCOS for a woman can occur during her teens or pregnancy.
Symptoms of PCOS
- Delay or non-occurrence of puberty or menarche (the start of menstrual periods)
- Obesity
- Unusual growth of body hair on face, chest and areas around the nipples, chest, below the navel and thighs
- Irregular and infrequent menstrual periods without either body hair or weight increase
- PCOS alters the hormone levels in the ovaries and makes menstrual periods irregular
How to diagnose PCOS?
- An ultrasound would help reveal any cysts in the ovaries.
- A blood test would indicate levels of male hormones and luteinizing hormones.
- A thorough physical examination including a pelvic exam would need to be conducted.
What causes PCOS?
So far, there is no known cause for PCOS, however there are known problems associated with PCOS. For example, blood sugar in the body is not properly channelized making the body susceptible to developing high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. A person suffering from PCOS runs the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Irregular menstrual periods also cause infertility (inability to get pregnant) in women suffering from PCOS. They may be more prone to cancer of the breast or uterus.
PCOS Treatment
- Management of PCOS symptoms is primary to treatment of the condition.
- This would include losing weight, maintaining a proper diet with lots of exercise.
- Medicines will help regulate menstrual cycle, reduce acne and abnormal growth of hair.
- Treatment also would need to be taken for conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
PCOS and Pregnancy
Women that wish to have a baby will need to undergo a regimen of taking a range of hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone and Clomiphene.
In case this regimen does not prove successful, a woman with a PCOS condition may need to consider the removal of scar tissue that is blocking conception leading to pregnancy.
Filed Under: PCOS and Pregnancy
[...] Ever since the releasing of Lisa Olsen’s book Pregnancy Miracle Guide, women in close to 130 countries have benefited and managed to produce perfectly healthy babies. And this includes women who were above the age of 40. Some of these mothers were even suffering from Chronic Ovarian Cysts, Endometriosis, and other complications. Also many mothers were finding ways of getting pregnant in spite of having PCOS. [...]
I have this myself. It has made it very hard for me to conceive and thankfully it hasn’t led to Diabetes but there is Diabetes in my family and I’m worried that I’ll get it someday.