Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) - Cause, Symptoms, Cure and Prevention

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents endocrine (hormonal) disease where increased and ovaries contain many small bubbles filled with liquid. PCOS - a fairly common disease.

Polycystic occurs when the ovaries to produce excess male hormones (androgens), which are normally produced in very small quantities.During each menstrual cycle, the ovarieshaves formed a plurality of small follicles (bubbles) from which can subsequently leave the egg. Normally, in the middle of the menstrual cycle during ovulation (rupture of the follicle), one egg leaves one of the follicles (ovarian any), and other follicles become overripe and no longer work. If PCOS, the egg does not ripen, and ovulation does not occur. The follicles do not break, and fill with fluid and turn into cysts. Accordingly, the ovaries may increase in size and become more than the normal 2-5 times. 

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome often appear masculine traits such as excessive hair growth on the face and body, acne, baldness and occipital abdominal fat (fat is stored around the waist).

Doctors estimated it affects about 5-10% of all women who have not yet gone through menopause. This is one of the major causes of infertility, in addition, many women are unaware that they are ill.

Causes of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

There is no consensus among physicians is still no. However, it is known that this disease is due to the insensitivity of the body's tissues to insulin (a hormone involved in the regulation of blood sugar levels). Recent studies suggest that the ovaries of women with PCOS, an excess produce male hormones because the body can not properly process insulin. the level of insulin in the blood is so high that the ovaries react to it by excessive production of male sex hormones.

Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Symptoms can occur at any age. May develop during puberty, and then the menstrual period may be delayed or never arrive. Girls are overweight and have a hair growth of male type, for example, on the chest, and on the face. They also have a menstrual cycle can be broken, and menstrual bleeding to be heavy enough.
Every woman's symptoms may vary slightly, but usually, there are some or all of the following symptoms:
  • excessive hair growth on the face, chest, and abdomen; 
  • the absence or irregular menstrual bleeding; 
  • bleeding from the uterus; 
  • high blood pressure; 
  • spots; 
  • obesity in the waist; 
  •  thin hair and male pattern baldness; 
  • infertility.
As already mentioned, polycystic ovary syndrome is accompanied by symptoms of diabetes, such as fullness or increased urination, vaginal thrush (candidiasis), or chronic skin infections.

Polycystic ovaries were seen on ultrasound, but not always. About 20% of women (not yet passed through the menopause), do not have symptoms of polycystic as such by ultrasound detected polycystic ovaries.

Complications of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Stein-Leventhal syndrome can increase the likelihood of developing certain diseases. Therefore, it is important to have regular medical check-ups. Even if some of the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome partially disappear after menopause, after a certain time may occur a variety of diseases.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus. By the time they reach menopause about 50% of women diagnosed with ovarian type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is important to pre-start to conduct a correct lifestyle and follow a healthy diet.

Elevated cholesterol levels. Increased levels of testosterone can cause increases in LDL cholesterol (the so-called "bad" cholesterol form) in your body, which ultimately leads to increased risk of heart disease and heart attacks.

Endometrial cancer. Because women with PCOS do not ovulate often, they have periods during which the endometrium is built up excessively. This may increase the risk of cancer of the uterus, although accurate data on this phenomenon yet.

What you can do

The doctor may advise complying with a certain diet to try to normalize insulin levels and maintain normal cholesterol levels. It is also very important to weight loss and maintaining good physical fitness, in themselves, these measures help some women with PCOS to realize the desire to become pregnant.

What can a doctor

Your doctor will need to assess the symptoms, based on the data of your medical records and general inspection. If you suggest polycystic ovary syndrome, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate tests to confirm it and to rule out other possible diseases. 

Necessary tests: ultrasound (shows a general view of your ovaries), blood tests, the overall level of male sex hormones, insulin, glucose, cholesterol, or luteinizing hormone.

Although polycystic ovary syndrome can not be cured, some of the symptoms can still be kept under control. Treatment will depend on your set of symptoms, how badly they appear and your relationship to the possibility of becoming pregnant.

Remedies for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

You can write a progestogen (a synthetic analog of the female hormone progesterone ) or contraceptives to induce regular menstrual cycles.

Some contraceptives with the low concentration of active ingredients, usually commercially available contain a small amount of an estrogen and an anti-androgen (a substance that blocks the effects of male sex hormones) cyproterone acetate. This helps effectively control excessive hair growth and acne. Cyproterone acetate and is available by itself, and your doctor can advise you on this or any other anti-androgen, spironolactone, acting in a similar manner. With excessive hair growth can be controlled simultaneously with the help of medication and epilation procedures. Your doctor will choose the method that is optimal for you.

Isotretinoin is used in case of abundant acne. This formulation reduces a number of sebaceous secretions and reduces the number of skin glands producing them. Due to the presence of side effects of this medication may be prescribed only by the special doctor. It is contraindicated in pregnant or planning a pregnancy since there is the danger of damage to the child.

Also, you may be prescribed medications such as metformin, help the body properly use the insulin produced by them. These medications help to reduce body weight and blood pressure lowering in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and sometimes allows you to restore the menstrual cycle. In addition, it allows you to control excessive hair growth caused by elevated testosterone levels. 

Using all of these drugs, you should understand that their effect is not immediate. Also note that if the medicines to reduce hair growth, are not effective, you have to use other methods such as laser hair removal, wax or electrolysis.

Infertility treatment may involve the use of drugs such as clomiphene citrate, follicle stimulating the growth of the ovaries and eggs forming in the middle of the menstrual cycle or injection of synthetic hormones similar to those which naturally produces your body.

Treatment by surgery for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

As infertility treatment, your doctor may offer you a surgical procedure - laparoscopy. It uses either burning hot needle or laser light to cauterize the ovary in several places. This procedure can stimulate ovulation and increase your chances of getting pregnant. However, surgery is generally considered a last resort, because scar tissue can then deform the ovaries, which can adversely affect your ability to get pregnant.

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