PCOS( Polycystic ovary syndrome) | cause | symptoms | complications | diets | remedies | treatment

 INTRODUCTION

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder seen in women during their reproductive phase ( 15-45 years). According to a one report, about 27% of women are having this syndrome and 65-70% of them don't even know about it, due to lack of diagnosis.

                          

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  In PCOS, womens have high level of   androgens as compared to normal level of other hormones like estrogen and progesterone - that regulates the menstrual cycle. Because of it there is a formation of many fluid filled sac like structure inside ovary appearing like cyst and hence the name of the syndrome is.

 

                         Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) & Leutinizing hormone (LH) help in follicles development and ovulation. But as there is high level of androgens in such womens it obstruct the both ovaries and ovulation. And such females can even have a periods less than eight or nine times annually. If it's not diagnosed or treated on time then it can lead to many complications like

* Infertility

* Irregular and infrequent uterine bleeding

* Cardiovascular diseases

* baldness

* Diabetes mellitus etc

CAUSES

Exact cause of PCOS is still unknown but research and doctors claim - it happens mainly due to high androgens level in body . Apart from it others 

Genetics 

* You might be having few genes from heredity that converge to PCOS .

Insulin resistance

* Females who are unaware of  their undiagnosed PCOS they consume high carbohydrates and high fatty foods and slowly over period of time become obese.

* Such obese females then become insulin resistance. And gradually body demands non-worthy extra insulin from beta cells of pancreas but it remains as its due to insulin resistant of body along with high blood sugar level in their blood stream.

* Resulting in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

* Also blood insulin promotes extra production of androgens in body .

Low grade inflammation due to WBCs in their body which is caused because of high androgenic hormone levels.

SYMPTOMS

Some females can identify it earlier while others can get it later on. Major symptoms of it includes:-

* Irregular & infrequent heavy periods- due to lack of sufficient female hormones blocking ovulation . And as there is building of uterine lining over period of time and when menstruation occurrs eventually it bleeds so high.

* Hirsutism- PCOS females can have hairs on their face and on their other body like in males .

* Oily skin- Due to high androgens it leads to oily skin that can cause many acne and pimples on their face.

* Thining of hair and even like male pattern baldness  

* Obesity is visible

* Hormonal change causes depression and anxiety 

* High blood glucose level ,high blood pressure and high triglycerides level because of obesity and insulin resistance diabetes mellitus.

* Skin darkening around neck, groin and  under breast like acanthosis nigricans.

COMPLICATIONS 

* Infertility 

* Cardiovascular complications

* Gestational diabetes

* High cholesterol level

DIAGNOSIS

There are few PCOS tests that your doctor can perform like

* Physical pelvic examination for to find out any abnormality including reproductive parts.

* Normal or transvaginal Ultrasound (USG) if needed 

* Different blood tests

 ^ for blood glucose level(fasting, rapid)

 

 ^ for cholesterol level

 ^ for androgens level

 

 ^ for estrogen and progesterone level checking

TREATMENT AND REMEDIES

Sorry but exact treatment of PCOS is not there. We can treat symptomatically . Also the main treatment of PCOS is change in lifestyle of patient. Further if no characteristic recovery is seen then we can go for medications.

* PCOS remedies- Reduce your weight, it is estimated that if you'll reduce minimum 5-8% of your total body weight then you may not be having PCOS and that can help you to reduce other risks factors. You can do it by

 

^ eating complex carbohydrates that degrade slowly

^ eating low fat, low LDL(bad) ,high HDL(good) cholesterol in diet.

^ drinking sufficient 3-4 L water daily will help you to boost up your metabolism .

^ doing minimum 30-60 minutes exercise twice in a day like cardio, running, jogging, swimming, etc

* For normal menstruation cycle doctor  can prescribe you diabetic medicine (like metformin) and birth control pills that contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone that will rise up female hormones than androgens .

* Can advice you progestin therapy too 

* Electrolysis procedure can be preferred for damaging excessive unnecessary hair follicles on unwanted body parts like face.

* Clomiphene like drug will be helpful to conceive in PCOS females and can it can lead to multiple births like twins etc.

* If no treatment is worthy then last option is to go under surgery  in which laparoscopic surgeon may make various tiny holes by tiny needles on ovary in order to make it ready for ovulation.