PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone disorder that affects 5-10% of women. Not all women have same symptoms, it varies. To be diagnosed with PCOS a woman must have 2 of 3 possible issues: chronic lack of ovulation (anovulation), chronic high testosterone (hormone) levels (hyperandrogenism), and ovaries that have multiple small cysts containing eggs (polycystic).

Risk Factors of PCOS:

When ovulation does not happen regularly, it interrupts the usual hormone cycle and causes levels of estrogen making the lining of the uterus to thick and causing abnormal bleeding. Over the time it leads to pre-cancerous changes or uterine cancer. This ovulation can also make a difficulty to get pregnant.

Metabolic syndrome is common in women with PCOS. Symptoms include extra weight around the waist and hip, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance/diabetes. Each of these symptoms raises the risk of heart disease. Obesity is common in women with PCOS.

If women are overweight, losing weight is a big step toward lowering the risk for diabetes and heart disease. Losing weight can help restore regular periods and improve other hormonal imbalances, but weight loss is often an incomplete solution to PCOS.

Treatment of PCOS:

It is important that all the symptoms of PCOS are addressed and managed long-term, to avoid associated health problems. PCOS is a long-term condition and long-term management is needed.

Dr. Niroopa Arun, Gynecologist at Murugan Hospitals is well-known to manage the PCOS depending on the symptoms you experience, like:

• lifestyle modifications – increasing your physical activity levels and eating a healthy diet can both help to manage PCOS
• Weight reduction – research has shown that even five to 10 per cent weight loss can provide significant health benefits
• Medical treatment – with hormones or medications.