Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
By: Ariel Reese
Overview of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
This is a chronic endocrine disorder in women, it is characterized by elevated levels of male hormones(androgens), infertility, obesity, insulin resistance, hair growth on the face and body, and anovulation: a condition in which the ovaries produce few or no eggs.
Often begin soon after a women first begins having periods
PCOS can develops later during the reproductive years, for instance, in response to substantial weight gain.
Symptoms
Need to have at least two of the following
- Irregular period: (Ex) menstrual intervals longer than 35 days; fewer than eight menstrual cycles a year; failure to menstruate for four months or longer; and prolonged periods that may be scant or heavy
- Excess Androgen: Elevated levels of male hormones (androgens) may result in physical signs, such as excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), adult acne or severe adolescent acne, and male-pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia).
- Polycystic ovaries: Polycystic ovaries become enlarged and contain numerous small fluid-filled sacs which surround the eggs.
Signs and Symptoms(Cont.)
- Irregular periods
- Absence of menstruation
- Hair thinning and loss
- Abnormal skin discoloration
- Excessive facial and body hair
- High blood pressure
- Acne
- Weight gain
- Depression and Stress
Diagnosis
There's no specific test to definitively diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome, but there are different ways to try and see if the women has PCOS
- Physical Exam
- Pelvic Exam
- Blood Tests
- Ultrasound
Treatments
Lifestyle changes
- weight loss through a low-calorie diet combined with moderate exercise activities.
Medications
To regulate your menstrual cycle, your doctor may recommend combination birth control pills — pills that contain both estrogen and progestin. If you dint want birth control pills you can get the skin patch or vaginal ring that contain the same hormones
Clomiphene:
Spironolactone