Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a fairly common condition that affects your hormones. In America alone, nearly five million women of childbearing age suffer from this condition. Since its symptoms aren’t always obvious, most women are diagnosed with the condition only when they’re unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant.

There are effective treatments, but early diagnosis is recommended. That means you have access to specialized doctors like endocrinologists and gynecologists who know how to spot PCOS early.

Preventing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

A sedentary lifestyle with a diet high in fat increases your weight, which exacerbates polycystic ovarian syndrome. The first thing your doctor may suggest is a change in your diet as a prevention method. A healthy diet helps you maintain your glucose levels and minimizes your PCOS symptoms.

You’re also directed to increase your activity level. Join a gym or take up a sport. Walking, jogging or swimming are excellent ways to burn calories and advance a healthy lifestyle. Keeping your weight in check is one of the best ways to:

• Diminish PCOS symptoms
• Avert the serious complications of the condition
• Improve how well prescription medicines work

The Causes and Complications of PCOS

The exact causes of polycystic ovarian syndrome aren’t known, although risk factors point to:

• Genes
• A hormone imbalance
• Ovarian inflammation

The symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some women develop symptoms during puberty, when they first menstruate. Others develop the condition after gaining a lot of weight. In fact, obesity seems to make your symptoms worse. This condition can cause other serious long-term health issues, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Gestational diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Sleep apnea
• Depression and anxiety
• Uterine cancer

When to Suspect Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Whenever you have abdominal pain or irregular periods, you should seek a medical consultation with your gynecologist or primary care physician. Abdominal pain, especially in your lower abdomen, can signal any number of serious conditions. Irregular periods may include menstruations that are particularly heavy, prolonged or too far apart.

Consulting a specialist at the earliest abnormal symptom is the best way to stop PCOS from ruining your chances of motherhood. Watch for signs that may point to PCOS, especially if you’re overweight, that include:

• Missed or irregular periods
• Ovaries that look enlarged to your gynecologist
• Several cysts discovered in your ovaries
• Excessive body hair, especially on your chest, stomach and back
• Significant weight gain, mostly around your belly area
• Unusual acne or oily skin
• Hair that becomes thinner and easily breakable
• Male-pattern baldness, unusual in women
• Infertility issues
• Skin tags found on your neck or armpits
• Dark or thick skin patches that appear on the back of your neck, in your armpits or under your breasts

Diagnosing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Your endocrinology expert usually talks with you about your symptoms and menstrual cycle. The next step is a pelvic exam to see if there are masses or any abnormal growths. You may also need to undergo blood tests that check your hormone levels. Excess levels of androgen and insulin in your blood are high indicators for PCOS.

Treatments

Along with lifestyle changes, your endocrinologist may prescribe medications to help you in three areas:

1. Menstrual cycle. Whether you use birth control pills, a skin patch, an intrauterine device or a vaginal ring, the hormone treatment eases your symptoms. The treatments are refined to regulate your estrogen and reduce your progestin levels. Of course, this is not the treatment if you’re trying to conceive.
2. Ovulation. Medications to help you ovulate fall into several categories.
3. Hair growth. One of the complications of PCOS is an excess of male hormones, which can lead to body hair.