PCOS Relief
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a common hormonal imbalance affecting approximately one in 10 women. It is estimated that a fifth of women have PCO (Polycystic Ovaries) and a half to three quarters of these experience symptoms at some point in their lives.
The hormone imbalance creates too much oestrogen and increased testosterone on the blood and not enough follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the ovaries to release an egg regularly.
The condition was first described in 1934 by Irving Stein and Michael Leventhal and is therefore often referred to as either ‘hyperandrogen anovulation syndrome’ or Stein Leventhal Syndrome’.
So what is the difference between having PCOS and Polycystic Ovaries?
PCOS sufferers have polycystic ovaries and the symptoms associated with the syndrome. You can have PCO without actually having PCOS.
What are the symptoms?
It can be difficult to diagnose PCOS as women with the condition can display any single symptom or a combination. Very few women have the same set of symptoms.
FACT: About 80% of women with PCOS have polycystic ovaries present in their body and around 50% of those with Polycystic Ovaries have PCOS and the rest have PCO.
Symptoms can include:
- Irregular periods – Some women will have normal periods, while most will have some changes to their cycle. Bleeding can either be really heavy or lighter. Periods may also be or become irregular and could also stop altogether. In teens, the diagnosis of PCOS may be delayed as this could possibly be normal.
- Unwanted bodily hair – Also known as Hirsutism, this symptom is due to the excess in androgens (male hormones such as testosterone).
- Acne – This symptom is also brought on by an increase in androgens.
- Chronic fatigue, fatigue
- Joint pain
- Hair loss – Also known as Alopecia, is the thinning of scalp hair in a ‘male-like’ pattern.
- Tender breasts
- Bloating
- Mood swings
- Difficulty in conceiving – This is usually related to the lack of egg release or ovulation and can be complicated by being overweight. There is also an increased risk of recurrent miscarriage.
- Depression
- Abdominal pain
- Dizziness
- Problems with being overweight – Studies show that two thirds of PCOS sufferers are affected. Weight gain is usually in the abdominal region and is associated with the body not processing insulin normally. The insulin resistance is caused by weight gain and in itself does not necessarily cause weight gain. Those who do not have this symptom are either in the normal weight range or underweight.
- Increased tendency to faint
- Cysts
- Small follicles on the ovaries
- Headaches
- Thyroid problems
- Poor memory
- Panic attacks
- Constant thirst
- Extreme cravings
If left untreated PCOS can lead to various life threatening conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Endometrial cancer – This can occur due to anovulatory menstrual cycles.
- Uterine cancer
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol
- Kidney problems
FACT: When chronic anovulation (lack of egg being released regularly) occurs the lining of the uterus (endometrium) may thicken and may lead to abnormal cell changes and an increased risk of uterine and endometrial cancer as women age.
What is the cause?
The exact cause of PCOS is still relatively unknown. With the studies that have been done to date, there appears to be a hereditary and lifestyle link. It is also believed to involve the ovaries inability to produce the correct proportions of hormone. I think Collette Harris describes it best, “The pituitary gland senses that the ovary is not working properly, and in turn releases abnormal amounts of luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which are both linked to the ovary’s ability to develop and release and egg. It is when this ability to ovulate becomes disabled that infertility can occur in women with PCOS.”
FACT: Ovarian cysts are follicles or eggs which have matured but have not yet been released.
Diagnosing PCOS
As there are many symptoms associated with PCOS, a combination of factors is used to diagnose the condition. Currently there is no one test to diagnose PCOS.
Before visiting your doctor to get a thorough examination, find out your family medical history, write down any symptoms you may have and any thing in your medical history that you think may be relevant.
Tests that can be performed are the following:
- Transvaginal ultrasound – uterus, ovaries and the pelvis.
- Blood tests for Androgens (testosterone, DJEAS, andostenedione), Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and Free Androgen Index (FAI).
- Blood tests for oestradiol, FSH and LH.
- Blood tests for Thyroid TSH and Prolactin levels which can mimic PCOS symptoms.
- Blood tests for fasting glucose, insulin and cholesterol.
There are also other tests for the Ovaries, Adrenal or Pituitary Glands that can be done to rule out any conditions associated.
FACT: If there are more than 15 follicles visible in an ovary on a pelvic ultrasound it is diagnosed as PCO.
Is there a cure?
At present there is no cure for the condition although symptoms can be treated with varying degrees of success and by sorting out or improving any underlying hormonal and metabolic problems, the cysts will often either disappear or reduce in number. The treatment of PCOS depends partially on the stage of life the woman is in.
By taking the contraceptive pill, it can help to balance out the menstrual cycle of a woman with PCOS, mask any symptoms and prevent the risk of uterine cancer. Treatment for infertility can include weight loss programs; ovulation medications such as Follistim, Letrozole, Clomiphene and Fonal-F; ovarian drilling surgery and IVF.
A diuretic pill called Spironolactone can assist in reversing acne or excess hair growth. Metformin is used to treat Type 2 Diabetes affecting the action of insulin and can assist in reducing the symptoms of PCOS.
To find out what you can do to treat your symptoms please consult your specialist.
What can weight loss do?
Even a weight loss of 5% will reduce insulin resistance and can result in the improvement of symptoms. Physical activity, even without weight loss is effective in reducing insulin resistance although it is highly recommended that you combine your exercise and meal plan to get the most benefits.
Benefits of weight loss can include:
- Ovulation restoration
- Reduction of symptoms
- Reduce the risks of diabetes and insulin resistance
- Reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease
Benefits of physical activity includes:
- Weight loss
- Improved self esteem
- Reduces the risk of Cardiovascular Disease
- Improves symptoms
To aide weight loss and a reduction in symptoms it is recommended to adhere to a meal plan similar to diabetics with low GI foods. A high protein and low carbohydrate meal plan is great in the initial weight loss phase.
Resources:
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome of Australia Inc
Yahoo! UK News Message Boards – Pregnancy – No IVF for the overweight?
Unfortunately bty949950 (real name Mengele?) the waters, far from being muddied, are crystal clear.
———————————————————- -
———————————————————- -
You say “The funniest thing about people arguing from a basically indefensible position is that they often throw a ton of irrelevant and unsubstantiated allegations into their arguments in an attempt to muddy the waters. You’re a perfect example of this, John Evans.
Speaking as an Irish bi-sexual (see how assumptions never work?)”
———————————————————- -
———————————————————- -
I made no such assumption. With a handle like bty949950 you could well be a V.W.Golf? Anyway, how many times have you used this crutch? It would make no difference if you were a Hawaiian nose flautist. Out of curosity was the ‘little’ correct?
———————————————————- -
———————————————————- -
You go on to say “I never suggested that any stigma should be attached to people being obese.”
———————————————————- -
———————————————————- -
You said that obese people had bad genes. If that’s not stigmatising what is? It is also inaccurate.
Obesity is a complex disease for which no single cause or cure exists. You gain weight when you take in more calories than you burn off. But obesity is influenced by many other factors as well: family history, the type of work you do, race, and environment.
So may I assume you are an ignorant Irish bi-sexual?
———————————————————- -
———————————————————- -
You continue “I said that people who have medical conditions causing obesity AND a failure to conceive are probably nature’s way of preventing the passing on of bad genes. Bad genetics are a fact of life. No one with any sense would breed puppies from a $%^& with known genetic problems,”
———————————————————- -
———————————————————- -
You don’t know much about dog breeding either, although Most dogs have had the bad genes needed to survive in the wild (ideally as wolves, which I assume (there I go again) people like you hunted to extinction) bred out of them by genetic engineers. Rejects were of course clubbed over the head or drowned. Presumably what you’d like to see happen to the overweight.
———————————————————- -
———————————————————- -
Finally you say “so why the heck would we knowingly produce a *child* with poor health? The increasing number of children being born with hereditary illnesses is a direct result of people ‘playing god’ when plain common sense should dictate caution.”
———————————————————- -
———————————————————- -
It’s you chum who’s playing God, which is exactly what The Third Reich tried to do (actually they played Satan).
How insultingly patronising to misstate the obvious. Has it not occured to you, that people with hereditary diseases, of all sorts; think long and hard, before getting pregnant?
In conclusion, is it in order to assume you are an ignorant little bi-sexual, Irish Nazi?
15 Serious Health Consequences Of Being Overweight Or Obese
An estimated 97 million adults in the United States are overweight or obese. The distinction between overweight and obese is a matter of quantity. Obese individuals simply have more body fat. Both these physical conditions significantly increase morbidity from many well known chronic health conditions. Following are a variety of common conditions found in overweight and obese indiviuals:
1) Metabolic Syndrome X. A cluster of cardiac symptoms which increase the risk for a heart attack or stroke.
2) Angina Pectoris. An often severe, constricting chest pain.
3) Pre-Diabetes. Reversible, but if left unchecked could lead to diabetes type 2. Diabetes type 2 has risk factors such as kidney disease, heart failure, amputation and blindness.
4) Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS is a hormonal disorder which leads to infertility in women. It can also cause excess facial hair, male pattern baldness and certain skin conditions.
5) Loss of muscle tone and bone density due to inability or refusal to exercise. As time goes by, there is muscle loss and the mineral content of the bones decreases. Loss of muscle tone leads to loss of strength to do simple daily activities. Loss of bone density could lead to dangerous falls and fractures.
6) High Blood Pressure (HBP). Normal Blood Pressure is 120/80 (mm hg) and represents the pressure within your arterial system. Overweight and obese individuals often have readings above 140/90 which is high. HBP is known as the “silent killer” because it has no symptoms.
7) High Cholesterol Levels. Cholesterol profiles tend to be suboptimal. This can lead to other forms of heart and circulatory disease.
Coronary Artery Disease. This is caused when plaque builds up inside the arteries that supply the heart. Restricting the blood supply could cause a heart attack.
9) Arteriosclerosis. This involves a hardening of the arteries, making them hard and brittle often leading to a stroke.
10) High blood insulin levels. This is a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease.
11) Gallstones and other g
1000
all bladder related problems.
12) Psychological imbalances such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and low self esteem.
13)Sleep apnea. This can lead to a heart attack by restricting oxygen to the brain and cause other respiratory difficulties.
14)Urinary control problems such as incontinence.
15)Cancer. Some types of cancer including colon, prostrate, and breast have been linked to obesity.
The number of both adults and children falling into the subgroups of overweight and obese grows each year. New research is linking overfat with more and more chronic health conditions. The above list is by no means inclusive. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of ailments where an individual’s percentage body fat may have an influence. A word to the wise is to maintain a normal percentage body fat for optimal health and living.
Mail this post
Related posts:
- Four Things That Don’t Work For PCOS
- How much does PCOS affect ones weight and the inability to lose it?
- Natural Remedies for PCOS
- I was diagnosed with PCOS?
- Anyone else with PCOS, not taking drugs and TTC?
Tags: cyst on ovary, cysts on ovaries, cysts ovaries, large ovarian cysts, ovarian cyst, ovarian cyst symptoms, ovarian cyst treatment, ovarian cysts, ovary cys, ovary cysts, pcos help, Pcos Pregnancy, Pcos Symptoms, Pcos Syndrome, polycystic ovarian, polycystic ovarian syndrome, polycystic ovaries, polycystic ovary, polycystic ovary syndrome, What Is PCOS?
