Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms, Treatment & Causes

Signs & Symptoms Of PCOS:

Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often appear in the late teens or early 20s. Not all women with PCOS will show all symptoms, and each symptom can vary from mild to severe. Some women only experience menstrual problems or are unable to conceive or both.

Common signs & symptoms of PCOS include:

• Irregular periods or none at all.
• Weight gain.
• Difficulty becoming pregnant.
• Thinning hair and hair loss.
• Oily skin or acne.
• Hirsutism - excessive hair growth, on the face, chest, back or buttocks.

Fertility Problems

PCOS is a widespread cause of female infertility. Many women only discover they have PCOS when they're trying to get pregnant. PCOS sufferers often fail to ovulate or infrequently ovulate, which means irregular or absent periods & difficulty falling pregnant.

Diagnosis Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Diagnosis of PCOS is straightforward. Your Medcare doctor will ask all about your symptoms to help discount other possible causes & check your blood pressure. Hormone tests will be conducted to discover whether PCOS or any other hormone-related condition causes excess hormone production.

You may also be put forward for an ultrasound scan, which will reveal if you have a high number of polycystic ovaries. An additional blood test may be conducted to measure your hormone levels & screen for diabetes or high cholesterol.

PCOS diagnosis comes if other causes of the same symptoms have been ruled out, &:

• You experience irregular or infrequent periods.
• Blood tests reveal high levels of male hormones, such as testosterone.
• Scans reveal polycystic ovaries.

Because only two of these are needed for a PCOS diagnosis, an ultrasound scan may not be required before PCOS is confirmed.

Referral To  A Specialist

On diagnosis, you may be referred to a specialist, either a gynaecologist (a specialist in female reproductive system conditions) or an endocrinologist (someone trained in treating hormonal problems). Your doctor or specialist will discuss the best management options for your symptoms. They may well recommend lifestyle changes & prescribe medication.

Treatment Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

While Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) cannot be cured, all the symptoms can be managed.

Lifestyle changes can reduce symptoms. These include:

• Weight loss (in overweight women), a reduction in weight of just 5% can improve PCOS symptoms.
• Exercising regularly.
• Switching to a more fruit, vegetable & wholefood-based diet.

Medicines for PCOS

Several medicines are available to treat symptoms associated with PCOS.

For irregular or absent periods:

• The contraceptive pill.
• Progestogen tablets.
• Other hormonal contraception methods.

For fertility problems:

• Synthetic ovulation stimulants.
• Metformin.
• Gonadotrophin injections.
• IVF treatment.

For hair growth & loss:

• Medicines for excessive hair growth (hirsutism) & loss (alopecia) include:
• Certain combined oral contraceptive tablets
• Cyproterone acetate
• Spironolactone
• Flutamide
• Finasteride
• Eflornithine cream

Medicines can also be prescribed for other PCOS issues, including:

• Weight loss medication.
• Statins - cholesterol-lowering medicine.
• Acne treatments.

LOD Surgery for PCOS

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) is a type of surgery for fertility problems associated with PCOS that don’t respond to medication. During LOD, the ovaries are surgically treated using heat - or a laser - to destroy tissue that produces androgens (male hormones). This corrects hormone imbalance & can restore normal ovary function.

Pregnancy Risks

PCOS sufferers may have increased risk of complications, such as:

• High blood pressure
• Pre-eclampsia
• Gestational diabetes
• Miscarriage

These risks are higher if you're obese. You can lower the risk by losing weight before trying for a baby.

Risk Factors Of PCOS

While the precise cause of PCOS is not known, it is believed to be caused by several genetic & environmental risk factors, including:

• Genetics: If your female relatives have PCOS, you may be at risk, too. Research suggests that daughters of women with PCOS are eight times as likely to be diagnosed, too.
• Stress: Psychological stress is one possible complication of PCOS. PCOS can cause physical & mental stress, increasing hormonal & metabolic imbalances, leading to chronic illness.
• Chronic inflammation: Stress plays a part in chronic inflammation, which directly relates to PCOS symptoms (weight gain, acne, infertility).
• Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance which leads to higher insulin levels.
• Weight issues: Weight gain & loss are two signs of PCOS. Many doctors strongly associate weight problems with PCOS.
• Sleep Apnoea: Many PCOS sufferers develop sleep apnea, a condition marked by interrupted breathing during sleep (& feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep), which could be caused by low levels of the hormone progesterone, that helps detect low oxygen & tells you to take a breath.

Complications Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Having PCOS may increase the chances of developing other health problems in later life. Women with PCOS are at increased risk of developing:

• Type 2 diabetes.
• Depression & mood swings.
• High blood pressure & high cholesterol.
• Sleep Apnoea: Overweight women may also develop sleep apnoea, interrupted breathing during sleep.
• Endometrial Cancer: Cancer of the womb lining.