Wednesday, February 20, 2013

What Is PCOS?


Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS is one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age. The name of the condition comes from the appearance of the ovaries in most women with the disorder. Typically the ovaries are enlarged and contain numerous small cysts. Sometimes they will appear along the outer edge of each ovary in a spiral pattern called a "string of pearls" Often times, the hormonal imbalance prevents the ovaries from growing mature follicles. follicles would normally mature and release an egg during ovulation. When the follicles fail to grow they can form small cysts instead. Most of the cysts are pain free and cause no other issues. However, there are types of cysts that develope that can grow to be quiet large and cause severe pain. Not all women with PCOS will have these persistent cysts.


Doctors don't know the cause of polycystic ovary syndrome, but these factors likely play a role:

  • Excess insulin. Insulin is the hormone produced in the pancreas that allows cells to use sugar (glucose) — your body's primary energy supply. If you have insulin resistance, your ability to use insulin effectively is impaired, and your pancreas has to secrete more insulin to make glucose available to cells. The excess insulin might boost androgen production by your ovaries.
  • Low-grade inflammation. Your body's white blood cells produce substances to fight infection in a response called inflammation. Eating certain foods can trigger an inflammatory response in some predisposed people. When this happens, white blood cells produce substances that can lead to insulin resistance and cholesterol accumulation in blood vessels (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis causes cardiovascular disease. Research has shown that women with PCOS have low-grade inflammation.
  • Heredity. If your mother or sister has PCOS, you might have a greater chance of having it, too. Researchers also are looking into the possibility that mutated genes are linked to PCOS.
  • Abnormal fetal development. Some research shows that excessive exposure to male hormones (androgens) in fetal life may permanently prevent normal genes from working the way they're supposed to — a process known as gene expression. This may promote a male pattern of abdominal fat distribution, which increases the risk of insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. Researchers continue to investigate to what extent these factors might contribute to PCOS.

Having polycystic ovary syndrome makes the following conditions more likely, especially if obesity also is a factor:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Cholesterol and lipid abnormalities, such as elevated triglycerides or low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol
  • Elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a cardiovascular disease marker
  • Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of signs and symptoms that indicate a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a severe liver inflammation caused by fat accumulation in the liver
  • Sleep apnea
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer), caused by exposure to continuous high levels of estrogen
  • Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, if you do become pregnant

There's no specific test to definitively diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome. The diagnosis is one of exclusion, which means your doctor considers all of your signs and symptoms and then rules out other possible disorders.
During this process, your doctor takes many factors into account:

  • Medical history. Your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual periods, weight changes and other symptoms.
  • Physical examination. During your physical exam, your doctor will note several key pieces of information, including your height, weight and blood pressure.
  • Pelvic examination. During a pelvic exam, your doctor visually and manually inspects your reproductive organs for signs of masses, growths or other abnormalities.
  • Blood tests. Your blood may be drawn to measure the levels of several hormones to exclude possible causes of menstrual abnormalities or androgen excess that mimic PCOS. Additional blood testing may include fasting cholesterol and triglyceride levels and a glucose tolerance test, in which glucose levels are measured while fasting and after drinking a glucose-containing beverage.
  • Pelvic ultrasound. A pelvic ultrasound can show the appearance of your ovaries and the thickness of the lining of your uterus. During the test, you lie on a bed or examining table while a wand-like device (transducer) is placed in your vagina (transvaginal ultrasound). The transducer emits inaudible sound waves that are translated into images on a computer screen.
The symptoms of PCOS can vary from woman to woman. Some of the symptoms of PCOS include:
  • Infertility because of not ovulating. In fact, PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.
  • Infrequent, absent, and/or irregular menstrual periods
  • Hirsutism— increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
  • Cysts on the ovaries
  • Acne, oily skin, or dandruff
  • Weight gain or obesity, usually with extra weight around the waist
  • Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
  • Patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black
  • Skin tags — excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
  • Pelvic pain
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Sleep apnea — when breathing stops for short periods of time while asleep  
Treatment for PCOS varies from patient to patient and often times treats a specific symptom. Birth Control Pills can help to regulate cycles in women who are not trying to conceive. Metformin and other diabetes medications can help with issues caused by insulin resistance. Various fertility medications can induce ovulation in women who are hoping to get pregnant. There are also medications to treat hirsutism that may be prescribed by your doctor. Depression or anxiety medications may be needed as well as treatments for sleep apnea. Losing weight is often suggested as a way to help minimize the symptoms of PCOS and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.



some information gathered from:
http://women.webmd.com/tc/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-topic-overview 
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/DS00423

4 comments:

  1. Steph as you know I also suffer from pcos. It is no fun. But don't give up. I had to take hormones and fertility meds. I had to lose weight, I lost 92lbs, took the med for over a year. Off the meds for over a year and still no baby.
    Devon and I was married June 5th, 1988. On May 14th, 1998 the greatest blessing we could of ever asked for happened we had a 6lb 4oz beautiful babygirl that I just knew we would never have.
    I know it is hard and sad and makes you mad and you start hating everytime someone gives you advise like just stop trying. And when someone has a baby you want to b happy for them but how do you do it when you feel like your life is falling apart and everything you want everyone else gets. But hang in there God is a good God and you have alot of people praying for you just like I did. I'm not going to tell you what to do to make it happen because I don't know what will make it happen if I had of known I would of had Kaylie sooner plus more then just her. But I will be praying for you.
    I hope someday you will be able to talk to someone else about the problems you had trying to have a baby, but for them and not give up. Because you have living proof that it can happen.
    If you need to talk and just let off steam or whatever I am here and I will listen and try to help you the best I can.
    I love you girl and I have been praying hard for you and Tom and will continue too.

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  2. Thanks so much for the thoughts and prayers Bonnie!! I think i forgot that we talked once about you also having PCOS!

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  3. How i got a cure for PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).

    I actually promised myself that i will do this because i never in life thought i would be cured of PCOS because my gynecologist told me there was no cure and because of this i could not take in and get pregnant. I had PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) for 7 years and this was a big pain to me and my husband due to the downcast we felt for not having a child. I experienced irregular periods or no periods at all sometimes, heavy periods, i gained weight (fat). I seeked a cure from one doctor to the other used androgen, clomiphene, metformin and even traveled to different states to see other doctors to no avail. My husband got to know about Dr. ALeta via a testimony he read on the internet on how a woman got a cure and he contacted her with the contact she left. I got the herbal medication and used it for the speculated 3 months that was all i have a son who is just 8 months old. Do not give up just contact her on (aletedwin@gmail.com) on how to get the herbal medication. Thanks and i wish you get cured soon too.

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  4. ALL THANKS TO DR WILLIAMS WITH HIS HERB MY WIFE WAS COMPLETELY CURED FROM FIBROID.
    Is my pleasure to comment on this site and i thank the admin of this site for his/her great work so far.one of the happiest moment in life is when you see your own wife put to bed.this awesome moments makes you a man, I really don't know how to thank DR WILLIAMS for helping my wife get cured for over how many year of suffering from FIBROID. i came across DR Williams contact through a headline news on internet about how DR Williams help a woman to get cured of his fibroid and so many other with PCOS and similar body problem ,i contacted him and he told me how to get his herb,few day later he sent me the herbal portion which my wife take every morning for 21 days, and his medicine was able to shrike the fibroid naturally,and now my wife is 4months old pregnant for our second child, and now she very okay without any side effects whatsoever, If you have fibroid, you can contact him on his email address drwilliams098675@gmail.com for advice and for his product.

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