what is PCOS awareness
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Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common hormone abnormality of reproductive-aged women, occurring in up to 10% of such individuals. It is characterized by overproduction of the androgen testosterone, menstrual abnormalities when ovulation does not occur and enlarged ovaries containing multiple small follicles (polycystic ovaries).
Women with severe PCOS have greater menstrual irregularity, androgen excess, total and abdominal fat and resistance to insulin; and also have more severe risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease than women with less severe forms of PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is more prevalent among family members than in the general population, suggesting that genes can influence the development of PCOS. Lifestyle, including diet and exercise, also affects the severity of PCOS, with weight gain worsening both reproductive and metabolic abnormalities.
Consequently, PCOS can adversely impair a woman’s health by increasing her risks for infertility, obstetrical complications, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diagnosing PCOS depends upon identifying whether a woman has 1) androgen excess, 2) disorders of ovulation and/or 3) polycystic ovaries, while eliminating other illnesses that mimic PCOS.
How is PCOS Diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing PCOS is to have a complete history and physical examination performed by a trained health care provider. A careful history and physical examination can detect whether androgen excess is causing male-pattern hair growth (hirsutism), acne or hair loss and whether ovulation is occurring normally. Physical examination also can detect high blood pressure and increased abdominal obesity as risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in individuals who are overweight.
Blood tests then can be performed to determine whether the ovaries are functioning normally or producing excess amounts of androgen. An ovarian ultrasound also can be done to measure the size of the ovaries and determine whether they have a polycystic appearance. At the same time, other conditions resembling PCOS, including pituitary, thyroid and adrenal abnormalities and other rare tumors, can be identified. Fasting blood levels of glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol also can be measured, along with another glucose determination obtained 2 hours after ingesting a glucose solution (2-hour oral glucose tolerance test), to predict the risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Treatment for PCOS
Treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome is individualized to treat prevailing signs/symptoms and generally focused on correcting irregular bleeding from the uterus, restoring fertility, improving the skin manifestations of androgen excess (hirsutism, acne, hair loss), and preventing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. More recently, attention has also focused on improving the quality of life in PCOS women who have body image concerns.
Irregular uterine bleeding
Irregular uterine bleeding from PCOS is usually due to lack of ovulation. Under this circumstance, the fragile lining of the uterus (endometrium) becomes thickened from excess estrogen and is not corrected by the monthly production of progesterone from the ovary that normally follows ovulation. Consequently, oral contraceptives (which contain progesterone-like substances), progesterone alone, or possibly a progestin-releasing intrauterine device, can be used to reverse the actions of estrogen on the uterine lining. Rarely, abnormal uterine bleeding after childbearing that does not respond to medical therapy may require surgical therapy.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Infertility
Before attempting to conceive, it is important to recognize that PCOS women are at increased risk of diabetes, hypertension and other complications of pregnancy. Therefore medical consultation is advised for any PCOS woman wishing to conceive to optimize her chance of having a normal pregnancy.
Women with severe PCOS have greater menstrual irregularity, androgen excess, total and abdominal fat and resistance to insulin; and also have more severe risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease than women with less severe forms of PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is more prevalent among family members than in the general population, suggesting that genes can influence the development of PCOS. Lifestyle, including diet and exercise, also affects the severity of PCOS, with weight gain worsening both reproductive and metabolic abnormalities.
Consequently, PCOS can adversely impair a woman’s health by increasing her risks for infertility, obstetrical complications, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diagnosing PCOS depends upon identifying whether a woman has 1) androgen excess, 2) disorders of ovulation and/or 3) polycystic ovaries, while eliminating other illnesses that mimic PCOS.
How is PCOS Diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing PCOS is to have a complete history and physical examination performed by a trained health care provider. A careful history and physical examination can detect whether androgen excess is causing male-pattern hair growth (hirsutism), acne or hair loss and whether ovulation is occurring normally. Physical examination also can detect high blood pressure and increased abdominal obesity as risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in individuals who are overweight.
Blood tests then can be performed to determine whether the ovaries are functioning normally or producing excess amounts of androgen. An ovarian ultrasound also can be done to measure the size of the ovaries and determine whether they have a polycystic appearance. At the same time, other conditions resembling PCOS, including pituitary, thyroid and adrenal abnormalities and other rare tumors, can be identified. Fasting blood levels of glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol also can be measured, along with another glucose determination obtained 2 hours after ingesting a glucose solution (2-hour oral glucose tolerance test), to predict the risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Treatment for PCOS
Treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome is individualized to treat prevailing signs/symptoms and generally focused on correcting irregular bleeding from the uterus, restoring fertility, improving the skin manifestations of androgen excess (hirsutism, acne, hair loss), and preventing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. More recently, attention has also focused on improving the quality of life in PCOS women who have body image concerns.
Irregular uterine bleeding
Irregular uterine bleeding from PCOS is usually due to lack of ovulation. Under this circumstance, the fragile lining of the uterus (endometrium) becomes thickened from excess estrogen and is not corrected by the monthly production of progesterone from the ovary that normally follows ovulation. Consequently, oral contraceptives (which contain progesterone-like substances), progesterone alone, or possibly a progestin-releasing intrauterine device, can be used to reverse the actions of estrogen on the uterine lining. Rarely, abnormal uterine bleeding after childbearing that does not respond to medical therapy may require surgical therapy.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Infertility
Before attempting to conceive, it is important to recognize that PCOS women are at increased risk of diabetes, hypertension and other complications of pregnancy. Therefore medical consultation is advised for any PCOS woman wishing to conceive to optimize her chance of having a normal pregnancy.
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