Polycystic ovary syndrome: a consultation with gynecologist

Polycystic ovary syndrome: a consultation with gynecologist
Low reproductive function

polycystic ovary syndrome Polycystic ovary syndrome affects almost 10% of women, but is now known about him is not very much. However, gynecologists, tell everything you need to know about this disease.

Syndrome, responsible for female infertility

Polycystic ovary syndrome (hereinafter - PCOS) is a common disease of the ovaries in women, it affects 5-10% of women (of childbearing age). PCOS is the most important point of the other causes of ovulatory infertility. He remains a hormonal disease and varies from one woman to another.

Under the PCOS need to understand that this is not really a cyst and follicle: in the presence of the disease ultrasound shows the presence of multiple follicles in the ovary, when affecting more than 12% of ovarian cancer. As a result of ovulation is often violated and we have long cycles (a significant delay between periods) or absence of menstruation.

Genetic factors

PCOS is a syndrome which means that it is not contagious, but rather a set of characteristics that lead to a hormonal imbalance. This syndrome occurs during puberty, although irregular cycles are not characteristic of PCOS in the beginning of this period.

This syndrome may be genetically engineered: a woman whose mother or sister with PCOS has a 50% chance to also get it (versus 10% of the total statistics). But still do not know exactly about what the genes in question. In women who have a family history of this, there may be other features that can cause PCOS, e.g., diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Symptoms assays

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is diagnosed after the elimination of all other potential causes that can cause symptoms such as a hormonal imbalance.

Gynecologist suspects PCOS if you have the following complaints:

irregular menstrual cycle (cycle lasts more than 35 days or a month disappear without cause - without treatment and without hormonal contraception);
hyperandrogenism (excessive secretion of male hormones, which is detected by a blood test, it can cause the appearance of hair in places, peculiar for a man - chest, abdomen, and acne may occur);
sonography reveals multiple ovarian follicles of different sizes.

If a woman has two of these three characteristics, it is possible to speak of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Symptoms of PCOS can vary from one woman to another, in some women, but a blood test and ultrasound will confirm PCOS, even if they do not have menstrual disorders.

Diagnosis is made on clinical grounds, but can also be detected by ultrasound, which is scheduled for the detection of other problems. US shows that the ovaries have multiple follicles. But the symptoms can be amplified, for example, with significant weight gain.

Elimination of other possible causes of hormonal imbalance

Depending on the reasons for the consultations by a doctor appointed by the tests may be different. If a woman makes a painful periods, or acne, the gynecologist will prescribe different studies, exactly the same as for women who can not get pregnant How to Get Pregnant: Recommendations to help .

When a woman comes for consultation because of infertility, the doctor first blood tests to rule out other hormonal causes. This blood test is done on the third day of menstruation, as recommended transvaginal ultrasound (even as it is called pelvic).

In addition to hormones, glucose (sugar) and cholesterol also have to follow the lipid disorders, which is one of the metabolic complications of PCOS.

Not all women have the same PCOS. Some women have all the characteristics of the disease, while others only a part of or have difficulty with fertilization.

Effective solutions to reduce the symptoms of PCOS

As tests, medical treatment of women with polycystic ovary syndrome is adapted to its peculiarities.

If a woman comes to the doctor with an excessive amount of hair Hair: structure, characteristics of growth and development or acne, it can prescribe the appropriate pill Birth control pills - how effective are they? That block the activity of the ovaries and reduce the symptoms. These pills usually contain progestins with anti-androgens, which help reduce acne and hirsutism (excessive body hair), but they always reduce the symptoms of PCOS, reducing the production of androgens by the ovaries.

If the woman consults a gynecologist because cycle disorders, which are highly concerned about it, for example, monthly with severe pain or long delays, it shows hormonal contraception, which should induce menstruation and to normalize cycle and well-being.

Finally, if a woman goes to a doctor because she can not get pregnant, she was prescribed pills to stimulate ovulation. For example, one of the most popular means of stimulating ovulation, is the drug clomiphene.

Note that all of these methods to stimulate ovulation require a precaution, should not be allowed hyperstimulation, which is not safe for women. The appointment must be strictly adapted to each patient. After receiving the drug the doctor should carefully monitor the changes in her body using ultrasound to assess the results, and see what changes occur in the ovaries. Also prescribe metformin, which is required if I have high blood sugar.

Caution - overweight

Gynecology is well known that fertility is very sensitive to the weight: The more a woman is recovering, the more likely that the ovaries are not functioning normally.

It is also the reason why some women find (a few years after the onset of puberty), that they were smitten PCOS. Slender in adolescence, adulthood, they put on weight and become sick.

Sometimes the disorder hidden adoption cycle hormonal pills that normalize hormones. When women interrupt contraception, find irregular cycles due to polycystic ovary syndrome, which manifests itself in connection with the overweight.