Women’s Health: Something about PCOS
PCOS is one of the most common physical problems in women today. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is abbreviated as PCOS. 1 out of every 10 women with reproductive capacity is infected with this disease.
In most cases, women between the ages of 20-30 suffer from PCOS. After puberty, PCOS can occur at any age, regardless of race or ethnicity, but those who are obese or have or have had a mother-sister PCOS problem in the family have a higher risk of contracting it.
What is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal, physical complication in women. As a result of PCOS, a hormone called androgen, usually present in high levels in the male body (normally present in very small amounts in the female body), causes excessive secretion in the female body. Women tend to have irregular menstruation or excessive bleeding. Numerous tiny follicles are formed in the ovary, and the process of regular ovulation is disrupted. In some cases, cysts are formed, but in many cases, cysts have not been created despite having PCOS.
Symptoms of PCOS:
- Irregular menstruation
- Unwanted hair
- Acne
- Thinning of the scalp
- Obesity
- Complications in pregnancy
- Dark skin
- Ovarian size changes
Causes of PCOS
The exact cause of PCOS is still unknown to medical science. However, doctors believe that the following factors are responsible for PCOS.
Excess of androgen hormone
Presence of excessive insulin
Physical complications caused by PCOS
PCOS can cause a variety of physical complications:
- Miscarriage or preterm birth may occur.
- Sleep apnea (breathing problems during sleep) can occur.
- High blood pressure can occur later in pregnancy.
- Excess fat can lead to liver damage.
- Increases the level of LDL (Bad Cholesterol) in the body and lowers the level of HDL (Good Cholesterol).
- There is a possibility of type-2 diabetes.
- Women with PCOS have a higher risk of high blood pressure than healthy women of the same age. This high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of various heart diseases and strokes.
- Frustration and anxiety.
- The presence of blood in the urine without any cause
- Increased risk of endometrial cancer.
Can a woman with PCOS get pregnant?
Being infected with PCOS does not mean that the woman will never be able to conceive. Many women can conceive later if caught early and with proper treatment.
Do the symptoms of PCOS go away after menopause?
‘Yes’ for many, and ‘No’ for many. PCOS causes many changes in the body and causes various complications. Many women have seen their menstrual cycle return to normal before menopause. In many cases, the symptoms remain the same, as the hormonal imbalances caused by PCOS remain the same with age.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
No specific method for diagnosing PCOS has been discovered so far. However, doctors recommend monitoring the symptoms as well as the following tests.
- Pelvic examination: examines the organs of the reproductive system; Whether there is the presence of any kind of flesh or abnormality.
- Blood tests: Blood tests are done to check hormone levels.
- Ultrasound: Ultrasound shows the shape of the ovaries and the thickness of the uterus lining.
Treatment of PCOS
There is no specific treatment for PCOS. Usually, the treatment is long-term. Treatment is based on the individual’s symptoms and the results of various medical tests. Treatment can be of two types:
- Lifestyle changes: Weight loss and adequate physical activity.
- Medication: For regular menstruation, your doctor may recommend taking birth control pills containing estrogen and progesterone. Your doctor may prescribe clomiphene, metformin, letrozole, gonadotropin to keep the ovulation process going. Birth control pills, spironolactone, or electrolysis can be recommended for the removal of unwanted body hair.
Awareness can easily free you from potential problems. However, to solve the problem, the advice of a suitable doctor must be followed.