PCOS, also known as Polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a syndrome that messes up with the hormones of women. If a woman is suffering from PCOS, she may produce a higher level of male hormones. Their menstrual periods can also get skipped due to hormonal imbalance. Sometimes, it can also get difficult for them to become pregnant in future.
Apart from that, many women can see drastic hair growth on their body and face. At the other end, they might even face baldness. It can also create long term health problems like heart problems and diabetes. Women can consume diabetes drugs or birth control pills to control their hormonal balance. But it should be done under the proper guidance of your doctor.
When to suspect Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?
This syndrome can be caught in the initial stages. The syndrome creates small circular fluid sacs on their ovaries. The other name for PCOS is Stein-Leventhal syndrome.
- Excess Hair Growth, Hirsutism
- Menstrual Cycle Irregularities
- Infertility
- Weight Gain or Weight loss
- Diabetes
- High Stress Levels
- Sleep cycle disturbances
- Skin changes like acne, oily skin, dandruff, skin tags
- Hypertension
- High Cholesterol levels
If you have any combination of these complaints, you should get yourself checked.
Tests and diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Researchers are still unable to identify the cause behind the PCOS. Moreover, no one can find the presence of the disease in the tests.
The gynaecologist can diagnose the condition by going through the medical history, family history, blood tests to measure your hormone levels, glucose levels, cholesterol and physical exams like the pelvic test. Your gynaecologist will use ultrasound to look at the ovaries and uterus. For other treatments like mammograms, you can read more at Advanced Medical Imaging blog.
Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCOS has no cure, but getting it treated by the specialist can control the syndrome. Moreover, it will also manage the symptoms that affect women. Treatments can depend if the woman wants to reduce the risk of secondary medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease or wishes to become pregnant in the future. There are many other recommended options to get yourself treated. Few of them are listed below
- Birth control pills:They can help you to control your menstruation and hormones.
- Diabetes medications:These medicines can help control blood sugar.
- Fertility medications: If you desire to get pregnant, then your gynaecologist can prescribe a combination of clomiphene and metformin, luteinizing hormone (LH) medications or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The doctor may even recommend you letrozole in certain cases.
- Controlling hair growth:A drug called eflornithine or spironolactone (Aldactone) can be used to control hair growth. Patients can also use Finasteride, but a pregnant woman should avoid it.
Read more about PCOS by clicking on the following link : https://jainhospital.com/pcos-polycystic-ovary-syndrome/
Consult an expert Gynaecologist!