Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies in women of reproductive age. It is the most common hormonal reproductive problem in women of childbearing age. This can affect fertility and pregnancy. It can also cause male-type body changes. Irregular or heavy periods may signal the condition in adolescence, or polycystic ovary syndrome may become apparent later when a woman has difficulty becoming pregnant. Women with PCOS may produce too much insulin, which signals their ovaries to release extra male hormones. It is the most common endocrinopathy among reproductive age women. As many as 30 percent of women have some characteristics of the syndrome. Polycystic ovary disease is characterized by enlarged ovaries with multiple small cysts, an abnormally high number of follicles at various states of maturation, and a thick, scarred capsule surrounding each ovary. PCOS is also associated with peripheral insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, and obesity amplifies the degree of both abnormalities.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is now recognized as a heterogeneous syndrome. The syndrome was originally reported by Stein and Leventhal in 1935 when they described a group of women with amenorrhea, infertility, hirsutism (unwanted hair growth in women), and enlarged polycystic ovaries. Women with PCOS frequently have a mother or sister with PCOS. But there is not yet enough evidence to say there is a genetic link to this disorder. Many women with PCOS have a weight problem. If PCOS is not treated properly, it can put a girl at risk for lots of problems, such as infertility, excessive hair growth, acne, diabetes, heart disease, abnormal bleeding from the uterus, and cancer. Polycystic ovaries are enlarged bilaterally and have a smooth thickened capsule that is avascular. On cut sections, subcapsular follicles in various stages of atresia are seen in the peripheral part of the ovary.

Causes of Polycystic ovary syndrome

The common causes and risk factor's of Polycystic ovary syndrome include the following:

No one knows the exact cause of this syndrom.

An imbalance in the hormones (chemical messengers) in your brain and your ovaries.

Excess fat.

Family history of Polycystic ovary syndrome.

Genetics may be a factor.

Symptoms of Polycystic ovary syndrome

Some sign and symptoms related to Polycystic ovary syndrome are as follows:

Pelvic pain,

Irregular periods.

Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair.

Weight gain, even obesity.

Insulin resistance and diabetes.

Patches of dark skin on the back of your neck and other areas, called "acanthosis nigricans".

Decreased breast size.

High blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

Treatment of Polycystic ovary syndrome

Here is list of the methods for treating Polycystic ovary syndrome:

Weight reduction is associated with normalization of hormonal disturbances and the resumption of regular ovulation. It also has a beneficial impact on the consequences of PCOS (eg, cardiovascular diseases, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia).

For women who don't want to become pregnant, birth control pills can regulate menstrual cycles, reduce male hormone levels, and help to clear acne.

Cosmetic treatment of facial hirsutism with electroepilation and laser hair removal has also been studied and found to be beneficial.

Reproductive Medicine.

Hormone treatment to suppress ovarian activity is a reasonable choice if the patient does not want to conceive now, and is having problems with excessive hair growth.

Metformin can be taken with fertility medications and helps to make PCOS women ovulate on lower doses of medication.

If medications don't help you become pregnant, your doctor may recommend an outpatient surgery called laparoscopic ovarian drilling.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for diseases treatment and online health tips. She also writes articles on rare skin disorders.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Juliet_Cohen

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Sept 06 - 2010 All About _Woman_Health Articles - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PCOS Causes Symptoms, Irregular Periods and Female Infertility
By Jeniffer Mas

There is an imbalance in a woman's body, which affects several hormone systems that may cause women to have a variety of symptoms of having an ovarian cyst. These symptoms also include of having a high level of androgens (a male hormone), missed or irregular period and many small cysts in the ovaries (which are abnormal, closed sac-like structures within a tissue that contain a liquid, gaseous or semisolid substance, they can occur anywhere in the body and can vary in shape).

Symptoms
Other signs include acne, obesity, excessive hair growth, and unusual hair growth and distribution and skin discolorations. If PCOS is not treated it can progress to metabolic syndrome: high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Other important signs include endocrine disturbances such as increase in insulin level, increase in PROLACTIN, increase in testosterone level, and increase in LUTEINIZING hormone that stimulates the ovary.

Any of the above symptoms and signs may be absent in PCOS, with the exception of irregular or no menstrual periods and all women with PCOS will have irregular or no menstrual periods. Women who have PCOS do not regularly ovulate, that means; they do not release an egg every month. This is why they do not have regular periods. It is a common cause for an ovulation and female infertility.

PCOS affects at least 20 % of all women of reproductive age, and it is more common in the ladies living in Middle East and Asian populations. However no one is definitely sure what causes PCOS. Although women with PCOS often have a mother or sister with the condition, so there seems to be a hereditary factor. In a study, 93% of girls who had PCOS reported that their mothers also suffered from this syndrome. Stress may also be an important contributing factor, sometimes that stress is biological, such as going through puberty.

Stress
Arab girls who hit puberty tend to feel quite shy and they are mostly ashamed of the change that is happening in their body, and most of the time these girls try to hide any of their physical change even from their mothers. This issue also increases their risk of stress and anxiety and hence the chances of developing an ovarian cyst.

Sometimes stress is the result of a "high energy personality." The symptoms of PCOS seem to occur more often when there is also a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, anxiety, and/or depression. There may be fact that PCOS happens when the woman's body starts to have trouble keeping up with the demands of a stress response that never has the opportunity to turn off. The socio-environmental factor is also significant. " Most people in the Middle East tend to have a very unhealthy lifestyle especially when it comes to sleeping, most people stay awake all night and then sleep in the afternoon, however what people don't realize is that unhealthy sleep is one of the contributing factors to people who suffer from some of the PCOS symptoms.

PCOS is definitely a health problem for ladies that can affect a women's menstrual cycle hindering her ability to have children, plus it leads to the appearance of blood vessels and 60% of women suffering from this problem are obese. Most women with PCOS have troubles in their menstrual cycle mainly because ovulation does not occur and the hormone progesterone is not made, and without progesterone the menstrual cycle is irregular or absent. The small cysts make male hormones, which also prevent ovulation.

Diagnosis
However the PCOS syndrome has many different presentations and no two women are alike. Yet two things do appear to be common in most cases and that is insulin resistance and there is some kind of stressor that pushes a woman's body into 'stress mode'

The diagnosis of PCOS is generally made on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms.

Treatment

However the cysts in the ovaries can be identified with imaging technology such as picture of a typical POLYCYSTIC ovary. "There is no cure for PCOS, treatment goals are only based on the symptoms. For younger ladies who practice birth control, especially those with low "androgenic" (male hormone-like) side effects, birth control pills like Jasmine, can cause regular periods and prevent the risk of uterine cancer. For acne or excess hair growth, a water pill (diuretic) called SPIRONOLACTONE may be prescribed to help reverse these problems.

Other medications include Diane, anti-androgens, FINASTERIDE, VANIQA cream and laser hair removal. For women who desire pregnancy, a medication called CLOMIPHENE (CLOMID) can be used to induce ovulation (cause egg production). In addition, weight loss can normalize menstrual cycles and often increases the possibility of pregnancy in women with PCOS. Therefore modifying one's lifestyle can also help the situation. "The best diet to follow for those suffering from PCOS is a low carbohydrate diet. Emerging research is also pointing to the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids, which maintains mood and hormone function among PCO patients.

Risks and the best approach to handle PCOS or ovarian cysts

Women with PCOS are at a higher risk for a number of illnesses, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer of the uterus (ENDOMETRIAL cancer). Getting your symptoms under control at an earlier age can reverse much of the risks. It is also important to eat right and exercise, and to avoid smoking cigarettes. A regular test for diabetes can also help. Family support is also very important and everyone needs to know that PCOS is a common illness but is not the most serious illness however treatment of the symptoms at an early stage is a great help to all sufferers of PCOS.

This is why thousands of ladies are now looking for a holistic approach or natural treatment, combining lifestyle changes with scientific treatment to help cure their ovarian cyst. Holistic approach is the best treatment to completely eliminate the threat of having an ovarian cyst.

For more facts of an Ovarian Cyst go to Holistic Approach link.

FREE Subscription to Newsletter on Ovarian Cyst

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeniffer_Mas

Friday, August 27, 2010

August 29 - 2010 All About _Woman_Health Articles - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Natural Approaches to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
By Justin DiMateo

Fortunately, many fertility specialists and doctors have found that polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS for short, responds well to natural approaches to treatment and certain lifestyle remedies. Each woman's case is different, however, and all women should always discuss their condition with a trained professional before implementing any treatment, dietary or exercise program, or undergoing any procedure.
Causes of PCOS The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is not fully understood, although many believe that genetics plays a role. Those suffering from PCOS are more likely to have a close relative such as a mother or sister who has PCOS as well. The condition may occur in girls as young as 11 years old, and about 5 million women in the United States are thought to have PCOS.
PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women. Irregular or absent periods are the most common symptom of this condition, and with the absence of a menstrual period, infertility is also present. Other symptoms may include increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs or toes, cysts on the ovaries, acne, weight gain, thinning hair, discolored patches of skin, skin tags, pelvic pain, anxiety and depression, as well as sleep apnea. Women with any of these symptoms should see a doctor to determine if they are suffering from PCOS or any other condition.
Treatment for PCOS Natural approaches to treating polycystic ovarian syndrome include regular exercise and eating healthy. A nutritional counselor or educated physician may provide more specific information regarding appropriate diet and exercise programs. Patients should discuss their options with a medical professional before adopting any program.
Some physicians encourage patients with PCOS to limit or eliminate processed foods or those with added sugar while adding more fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole-grains to their diet. Patients should strive to keep their body weight at a healthy level, as many women with polycystic ovarian syndrome are overweight or obese. This may lead to further health problems, so maintaining a healthy weight is often stressed in treatment for this condition.
Some doctors or clinics may recommend a nutritional supplement program in addition to nutritional or exercise programs in aiming for a healthy lifestyle. The best resource for further information about PCOS and natural approaches to treatment is a trained fertility specialist who offers nutritional counseling and is experienced in helping women live healthy lives through other natural lifestyle changes.
Find out more on Natural PCOS Treatments or for additional questions and solutions in becoming pregnant, becoming a parent, and other options from experts in the field of fertility at www.FertilityLeaders.com.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_DiMateo

Friday, August 20, 2010

August 21 - 2010 All About _Woman_Health Articles - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Diet Secrets
By Jennifer Koch

Eat healthy, diet, lose weight, detox, get a gym membership, positive thinking... we are bombarded with messages on how to get healthy every day but why do we continue to suffer from conditions such as PCOS? I believe it is because of the general nature of a lot of these calls to action and the fact they do not laser focus on particular problems. A polycystic ovary syndrome diet however is one aspect of curing PCOS naturally that you need to know in detail and action before all those other intruding pieces of advice try to overwhelm you.

Here are some important tips you need to know to construct your diet plan for PCOS.
Proteins
Proteins are vital to every person and science suggests that a lack of proteins could be a problem with PCOS sufferers. Studies have linked a lack of proteins in PCOS affected women to some cases of miscarriage in fact but protein has many functions such as:
Building and repairing body tissues.
Producing enzymes, hormones, and other substances the body uses.
Regulating your body processes, such as transporting nutrients, and making muscles contract.
Keeps the body healthy by resisting diseases
Produces stamina and energy.
Often when trying to lose weight women tend to lower their protein consumption which as you can see is not a good thing. You can get good amounts of protein without much fat from chicken, fish, soy and low fat dairy products like low fat cheese.
Fats
Talking about fats did you know that not all fats are bad? There are some that are terrible for you but there are also those that are very beneficial in moderate amounts.
What you really want to avoid are what is known as trans-fats which are fats that have been chemically changed. Foods that have partially hydrogenated on their labels are trans-fatty and should be avoided. These fats will really cause problems with your insulin levels which are very bad for diabetics and PCOS sufferers.
Good fats are known as fatty acids or omega 3 fats which are actually great for your health. These fats are found mainly in fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardines. These are fats you want more of as they do not spike your blood sugar level and contain nutrients that help your body function efficiently.
Carbohydrates
There are two types of carbs. Like fats there are good ones and bad ones you should use or not use in a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome diet.
Complex carbs are good carbs that are found in foods that are unrefined. These carbs take longer to digest and thus do not turn into blood sugar as fast spreading out the energy absorption.
Simple Carbs are the completely different. They digest quickly which spikes your blood sugar sky high! This causes major problems with women who suffer from PCOS as your insulin resistance (the root cause of PCOS) does not cope with this well at all.
As you can see, choosing your PCOS Diet must be planned carefully from the grocery store to the plate to give your body the best chance at lowering blood sugar levels, and rebalancing your hormones. For more information on a complete system to eradicate PCOS and ovarian cysts click below to discover more!
Natural PCOS Remedy

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Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Koch

Thursday, August 12, 2010

August 13 - 2010 All About _Woman_Health Articles - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Getting Pregnant Diagnosed With PCOS, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
By Yvonne Wilson

Recommended Reading
Freedom From Pcos E-book
Highly effective solution to NATURALLY
overcome PCOS and insulin resistance?

Infertility is a very real problem today. CDC estimates indicate that as many as six million women of child bearing age are having trouble conceiving a child. In married couples this amounts to about two million of all couples. Nine million women have used infertility services at some point in their lives. One condition that causes some of these cases of infertility is polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. Between six and ten percent of all women have PCOS to some extent. While many women are able to conceive and bear children naturally in spite of this condition, it can make getting pregnant difficult for some.

What Is PCOS?

PCOS is an endocrine disorder that causes cysts to grow in the ovaries. Women with POCS will have eight or more cysts that are 10 mm in diameter or smaller in the ovaries, and these cysts can cause difficulties with ovulation. The cysts cause the ovaries to be larger than the ovaries in healthy women. The condition can cause late periods and difficulties when the woman tries to get pregnant.

Interestingly, PCOS tends to be more common in diabetic women than non-diabetic women. While women who are not categorized as diabetics can have the condition, it is often accompanied by higher-than-normal insulin levels. This has led some researchers to speculate that there is a correlation between diabetes and PCOS, although the link has yet to be proven.

Symptoms of PCOS

The symptoms of PCOS are usually what cause a woman to seek treatment. Infertility is one common symptom that sends women to the doctor. However, there are other symptoms of the condition as well, including:

· Irregular or late periods
· Lack of ovulation
· Increased levels of testosterone
· Six months or more of pelvic pain
· Being overweight· Diabetes
· Cholesterol problems
· Hypertension
· Excessive hair growth, especially on the face
· Hair loss· Skin problems
· Skin tags

While these symptoms can indicate a variety of problems, they do point to PCOS. However, they can appear to be completely unrelated problems, and for this reason many women who have the condition are not diagnosed very quickly. The doctors, instead, focus on treating each of the symptoms individually, especially if the doctor cannot feel the cysts on the ovaries. However, a combination of these symptoms, especially when accompanied by fertility problems, is a good indication that PCOS may be the culprit.

Treatment for PCOS

PCOS needs to be treated, because the condition can lead to other serious health problems in the future, such as endometrical cancer and heart disease. While these are serious conditions, most women seek to treat their PCOS so that they can get pregnant. Regardless of the reason, treatment is essential.

Treatment for PCOS tends to focus on treating the symptoms, rather than the disease itself, as the cause of the condition is still unknown. Women who suffer from irregular or late periods often are put on birth control to stabilize the menstrual cycle. This does not work, however, for women who are trying to get pregnant. Other conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes, are also treated with medications.

Many women who have PCOS and are struggling with infertility find that their infertility issues are calmed somewhat when they go on insulin medications. This often helps to regulate periods and promote ovulation, which can help a woman to get pregnant. A healthy weight, which is sometimes difficult to attain with this condition, can also improve fertility.

Getting Pregnant with PCOS

If you are diagnosed with PCOS, it does not mean that you will be unable to get pregnant. However, you may find it more difficult to get pregnant with this condition, and you may also have a problem with miscarriages. Estimates indicate that women with PCOS have a 45% miscarriage rate. Before you try to get pregnant, talk to your obstetrician about the hurdles you will be overcoming as someone with this condition. There are steps you can take prior to getting pregnant to reduce your chances of having a miscarriage.

Remember that PCOS is one of the most common fertility problems in women, so your doctor will be trained on how to treat this condition. Also, many of the medications used to treat the symptoms of PCOS are dangerous for babies in the womb, so you may need to work with your doctor to adjust your medications before you begin trying to conceive.

Start by getting as healthy as you possibly can. Adding exercise and a healthy diet to your life will help balance the insulin problems your body is probably facing. Also, being at a healthy weight before you get pregnant will lower your chances of developing gestational diabetes, which is common among PCOS patients. Lower the amount of fat and carbohydrates in your diet as much as possible.

If you have gotten your weight under control and are taking medication for insulin resistance and still find that you are not ovulating, your doctor will probably prescribe an ovulation medication, such as Clomid. This will stimulate your ovaries towards ovulation, which must occur if you are going to get pregnant. Once you begin ovulating, start charting your body temperatures to learn when you ovulate. Your morning body temperature will spike slightly around the time of ovulation, and this is when you are going to be fertile. If you have tried to conceive using these medications and proper planning and still are unsuccessful, you may wish to consider intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization to help you successfully conceive. Your doctor will be able to advise you as to which of these treatments is likely to be successful.

Remember, it can take a lot of time and medical care to get pregnant while suffering from PCOS. It is possible, but you need to be patient. Choose a physician that you trust and feel comfortable with, as you will be spending many hours in his or her office in the next few months. Also, try not to stress about getting pregnant. Stress hormones can interfere with fertility, making it even harder for you to conceive. Relax, follow your doctor's orders, and enjoy the process. Soon you will be holding that bouncing baby you have been dreaming about for so long. If you don't want to visit a doctor you can use my method to get pregnant with PCOS, using an online pregnancy method at http://Child-Wish.com/.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yvonne_Wilson

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

August 05 - 2010 All About _Woman_Health Articles - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
By Dr Andrew Napier

Recommended Reading
Freedom From Pcos E-book
Highly effective solution to NATURALLY
overcome PCOS and insulin resistance?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS is a common hormonal disorder among females considered to be one of the leading causes of infertility. It affects women from 12 to 45 who are in their reproductive age. Another name for PCOS is Stein Leventhal Syndrome. Almost 5% to 15% women are attacked by ovarian cysts. It elevates the level of Androgens or male hormones in the body there by causing menstrual disturbances. Disturbed periods or absence of periods for over three months can be treated as case of PCOS and should be taken care of under a profession physician.

Some most common symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome are disturbed menstruation and acne condition of the skin. Due to the increase in Androgens in the body excessive hair growth and hair loss happens in a male pattern. Other signs are obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high insulin etc. Skin conditions like oily skin, dandruff and skin discolorization. But above all the case of an irregular menstruation should be treated as a cause for infertility in future and a possible symptom of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

The actual cause of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is still unknown. But scientists after a lot of scientific research have come up with the theory that it is the result of the combination of both genetic as well as environmental conditions. Genes play a vital role in this. A woman who has someone suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in her family is more likely to suffer from it. Another reason is if a person suffers from malfunctioning of the insulin system in the body. Abnormalities like high insulin level or insulin resistance may contribute to the development of PCOS. Hormonal disorder can also cause Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which leads to production of excessive LH hormones in the body. Other reasons may include exposure to male hormones and presence of any chronic inflammation in the body.

Due to their limited success traditional treatment for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome has been superseded by newer methods of treatment. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a way of treating excess production of Androgens in the body. What it does is punctures the ovary with a laser or electrosurgical needle. This dramatically reduces the production of male hormones. However, since smokers do not respond to this. Medication is advisable since they have rare side effects and brings insulin, cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, ovulation etc under control. Whatever may the form of medication be, please refer to a professional physician for the same.

Read about Home Remedies for Ovarian Cyst. Find herbal Vaginal Tightening Cream.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Andrew_Napier

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

July 29 - 2010 All About _Woman_Health Articles - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome? (PCOS) Treatment, Sign and Symptoms
By Dr Andrew Napier

Recommended Reading
Freedom From Pcos E-book
Highly effective solution to NATURALLY overcome PCOS and insulin resistance?

PCOS better known to us as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is essentially a hormonal disorder mainly found in women in their reproductive age as well as during young teens. PCOS is one of the principle causes for infertility. About 5 to 7 million women in the US alone suffer from PCOS and this number seems to be increasing day by day. What makes the disease even more inexplicable is that the disease sometimes comes with dissimilar symptoms making it even harder to predict. The syndrome does vary between women making the diagnostic procedure difficult.

Though the disease varies from one point of time to another but it does have certain common signs. Some of the common signs found are -

1. The periods come at an irregular stages, may be a few times in a month and at times not at all.

2. Arousal of Acne, Acne is type of skin disease where in multiple non seditious follicular papules are formed in the skin mainly red in color.

3. There would be a distinct weight gain or weight loss.

4. There would be development of hirsutism which is essentially is growth of hairs on parts were minimal hair growth is found.

5. Again development of acanthosis nigricans may be found, they are patches of dark skin on parts of the body mainly on the back of your neck.

The PCOS is mainly caused due to imbalance of hormones within the ovary as well as the brain. Studies have found that many young teens having relatively very high amounts of insulin present in there pancreas which in turn results in additional testosterone production within the ovary.

Now that we know about the causes and the signs it is imperative that we discuss on the ways to treat upon the disease -

1. In order to control the insulin level in the body one needs to intake the medicine Metformin. It is also helpful in the treatment of diabetes.

2. In case of hair loss one may look up-to bleaching, waxing, depilatories, electrolysis, and laser treatment.

3. There are various ways to treat Acne, medications like birth control pills, Acne treatment creams and oral antibiotic may be used.

4. In case of sudden weight loss or weight gain it is crucial for the person suffering from the disease to have food that has a balance of nutrients carbohydrates and proteins at regular intervals along with regular exercise.

These treatments for PCOS are effective and safe.

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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Sunday, September 12, 2010