Know All About PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) – PCOS Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

PCOS/PCOD (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/Disease) is a major concern for women with infertility issues. It is due to the rising concern and awareness in the global community, that we bring you this article which may help you understand this triggering issue in detail.

What is PCOS/PCOD (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/Disease)?

PCOS or PCOD is a condition found in women in which their sex hormones (produced by ovary/s) called estrogen and progesterone are out of balance. This imbalance leads to various physical changes such as the growth of ovarian cysts in ovaries. These cysts result in anovulation and infertility. Also, in PCOS, a woman’s body starts producing excess levels of male sex hormones (androgens) as compared to the amount a normal female ovary/s. So, PCOS/PCOD by altering hormones affects a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility health, blood sugar levels, cardiac health, and physical appearance.

What causes PCOS/PCOD?

The exact reason, which causes PCOS, is still unknown. Most of the time the factor leading to PCOS/PCOD is considered to be genetic and hereditary. Often women diagnosed with PCOS have a history of PCOS in either of her parent’s side or on both. Also, overproduction of male hormones and raising insulin levels in a female body can be a contributing factor for PCOS. To your information, an excess level of insulin often leads to high androgen level which in turn contributes towards PCOS/PCOD.

Symptoms of PCOS/PCOD

Normally, symptoms of PCOS start appearing from the onset of menarche in a woman. However, the range and severity of PCOS vary from women to women along with variation in symptoms.

Nonetheless, there are certain common symptoms of PCOS experienced by almost every PCOS women apart from the ones who have Occult PCOS. The classic symptoms of PCOS experienced by most women with PCOS/PCOD are-

• Irregular menstruation: Sometimes a woman with PCOS get only 8 periods per year and that too varying with wide gaps in between.
• Anovulation (None or infrequent ovulation).
• Weight gain and problems of weight loss.
• Hirsutism: The growth of excess facial and body hair. Most of the time they are thicker and darker and appear on chin, chest, belly, and back.
• Alopecia: Male pattern hair loss on scalp.
• Depression and anxiety.
• Acne and growth of pimples on face and body.

Please See: Occult PCOS is a type of PCOS, where the woman does not experience the classic symptoms of PCOS such as obesity, irregular menstruation, and hirsutism (growth of excess facial and body hair). This form of PCOS can only be detected when the woman faces multiple courses of miscarriage due to superovulation (production of a large number of follicles).

Treatment Options For PCOS/PCOD

Although it may cause you more trouble, complete cure of PCOS/PCOD is not possible. However, it can be managed to great levels, with rigorous medicinal, dietary and lifestyle changes. Some of the ways through which PCOS/PCOD can be controlled areas discussed below-

1- Weight loss

This is suggested first and foremost to mostly all the women struggling with PCOS. It is an effective treatment for PCOS as Weight gain is related in a vicious cycle to PCOS. With weight gain, PCOS increases and with increasing PCOS level in the body, further weight gain takes place. There are medications such as Metformin, which is suggested to PCOS women to help them control the insulin level in the body leading to weight loss. Along with this, a dietary regime with lean protein, omega-3, and folic acid, iron, and vitamins (A, C, & D), are suggested to help women manage their weight.

2- Ovulation Induction

Ovulation is one of the most detectable symptoms of PCOS. It leads to infertility and it is very important for women with PCOS to ovulate regularly to control their PCOS levels. For this, a drug such as Clomiphene Citrate and Letrozole are suggested. However, in some women, these drugs do not affect well due to a high level of testosterone. In such case, ovulation induction is done through HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) injections and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) shots.

Moreover, there are patients who are resistant to the above drugs and they can be treated only with GnRH analog (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog) to induce ovulation successfully.

3- Surgery

Ovarian drilling which is known as Ovarian Cauterisation or LEOS (Laparoscopic Electrocauterisation of Ovarian Stroma) is one of the surgical procedures for PCOS. This is normally done for those who have abnormal ovarian tissue problems. Under this procedure, a laser is used to drill various holes through the ovarian capsule as a part of treatment. The removal of abnormal ovarian tissue restores the normal ovarian functions and help women with PCOS to ovulate successfully.

Can IVF Help In Pregnancy With PCOS?

IVF is the best treatment for women with PCOS to help conceive a baby. Ovulation induction is a treatment protocol under IVF, which fetches a very high success rate in the case of women with PCOS/PCOD. However, there are measures to be taken before going for ovulation induction. Ovarian stimulation or ovulation induction is very harmful to women with Occult PCOS. In such cases, eggs die immature and fertilization and pregnancy never occur.

Hope this article has been able to help youresolveyour queries on PCOS and PCOD symptoms, causes and treatment. Follow Shine fertility Woman to get regular updates on fertility health and treatments.