What is PCOS?
Are you in reproductive age ?
Are you having some health complications and you are not sure about what it is ?
This article is for you
Well there are so many health complications that can hit you at your reproductive stage PCOS/PCOD is one of them.
This article will help you to understand all you need to know about PCOS
PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome or polycystic ovarian syndrome. The women of reproductive age face this problem. Well if we talk in simple ways, it is caused by some imbalance in hormones. This is very common in women at the reproductive age. PCOS affects the menstruation cycle of woman,
Females with PCOS produce higher than average concentrations of male hormones. This hormone imbalance causes them to skip menstrual periods and makes pregnancy more difficult for them.
PCOS is also responsible for hair growth on the face and body, and baldness. And it can assist with long-term health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease.
PCOS is related to other medical conditions such as resistance to insulin, type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and heart disease.
Read the full article to know about PCOS, causes, effects and treatment as well.
WHAT IS PCOS?
PCOS is a hormone imbalance that affects women in their childbearing years (age 15-44). Within this age group between 2.2 and 26.7 percent of women have PCOS
EFFECT OF PCOS?
PCOS affects the ovaries of a woman, the reproductive organs which produce estrogen and progesterone — hormones which regulate the menstrual cycle. The ovaries even contain a small number of androgens called male hormones.
The ovaries release the eggs for a man’s sperm to fertilize. Each month the release of an egg is called ovulation.
It controls ovulation by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and by luteinizing hormone ( LH) FSH stimulates the ovary to make a follicle — a sac containing an egg — and then the ovary is triggered by LH to release a mature egg.
SYNDROMES OF PCOS
Not all women with PCOS are going to have all the symptoms, and every symptom will vary from mild to severe.
Some women experience only menstrual problems or can’t conceive, or both. Some women begin to see symptoms around the time of their initial period. Others only discover that they have PCOS after gaining a lot of weight, or that they have had trouble getting pregnant.
PCOS IS A "SYNDROME" OR SYMPTOM GROUP AFFECTING THE OVARIES AND OVULATION.HERE ARE SOME OF EARLY SYMPTOMS :
- irregular menses
- excess androgen levels
- sleep apnea
- high-stress levels
- high blood pressure
- skin tags
- infertility
- acne, oily skin, and dandruff
- high cholesterol and triglycerides
- acanthosis nigricans, or dark patches of skin
- fatigue
- female pattern balding
- insulin resistance
- type 2 diabetes
- pelvic pain
- depression and anxiety
- weight management difficulties including weight gain or stress losing weight
- excessive facial and body hair growth, known as hirsutism
- decreased libido
- Cysts inside ovaries
- High levels of hormones amongst men
- Irregular or intermittent periods
The lack of ovulation affects estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH levels. The levels of estrogen and progesterone are lower than usual while the levels of androgen are higher than average.
The menstrual cycle is interrupted by the extra male hormones, so women with PCOS get fewer cycles than usual.
THERE IS NO PROVEN CAUSE BY DOCTORS. BUT THERE ARE SOME FACTORS DOCTORS TELL THE PATIENT LIKE GENES
- There are like more than one gene that can be the cause of PCOS. Some studies also describe it as a genetic disease.
INSULIN RESISTANT
Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas to help the body use sugar for energy from foods.
When cells can not efficiently use insulin, insulin demand in the body increases, the pancreas is making insulin more to compensate. Extra insulin causes the ovaries to generate more male hormones.
INFLAMMATION
Women with PCOS are also experiencing elevated levels of inflammation in their bodies. Overweight can also tend to cause inflammation. Studies relate the excess inflammation to higher levels of androgen.
TEST AND DIAGNOSIS
No single test can assess the existence of PCOS. Still, by medical history, a doctor can diagnose the disorder, a physical examination that involves a pelvic exam, and blood tests to measure hormone, cholesterol, and glucose levels.
TREATMENT
PCOS is not cured, but treatment is aimed at managing the symptoms that affect an individual.
This will rely on whether the patient wants to get pregnant and aims at raising the risk of secondary medical conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Several care options are recommended, including:
Birth control pills: These can help regulate menstruation and hormones.
Diabetes medicines: If necessary, these help in managing diabetes.
if we talk about Usage of clomiphene (Clomid), a mixture of clomiphene and metformin, or injectable gonadotropins, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH ) and luteinizing hormone (LH) medicines, if pregnancy is needed.
Anyone who uses spironolactone should use birth control, if taken while pregnant, because of the risk of congenital disabilities. Breast-feeding is not recommended on this medication.
Other possible hair growth management options include laser hair removal, electrolysis, hormonal treatments, or use of vitamins and minerals.
Operating solutions include:
Ovarian drilling: Tiny holes in the ovaries can reduce the androgens produced. Oophorectomy: Chirurgie removes one ovary or both. Hysterectomy: This entails removing part or all of the uterus.
Women affected by PCOS may experience the effects through their lives.
The risk of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and preterm births can be increased.
There is an increased risk of the newborn being put in the neonatal intensive care unit or death before, during, or soon after birth after delivery. Pregnancy and menopause
Women affected by PCOS may experience the effects all the way through their lives.
The risk of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and preterm births can be increased. There is an increased risk of the newborn being put in the neonatal intensive care unit or death before, during, or soon after birth after delivery. For example, twins or triplets, these complications are more common in multiple births.
Symptoms such as excessive growth of hair and baldness of the male pattern may last beyond menopause and may get worse.
The risk of secondary health complications associated with PCOS also arises with ageing, including heart disease.
Doctors are still unclear with the cause and symptoms but you have anyone please make an appointment. Early diagnosis can help reduce health complications.