Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or commonly known as PCOS is a disorder which hampers a woman’s hormone levels. Women suffering from PCOS produce excess amounts of male hormones. This leads to irregular menstrual cycle, too much growth of the facial hair, baldness, and even other long-term problems such as diabetes and heart diseases.
Diagnosis
There is no definitive test to confirm PCOS. When you visit a doctor, they will start inquiring about your medical past, your period history, and weight fluctuations. They might also conduct a physical exam to look for the signs of too much hair growth, increase in blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, and acne.
The other tests include;
• Pelvic Exam
During this test, the doctor will manually and visually check the reproductive organs for any kind of abnormal growth, masses, etc.
• Blood Tests
A blood test will be conducted to analyze the hormonal levels. This test will also eliminate other causes of abnormalities during your period or large quantities of androgen, which is quite similar to PCOS. You might even have to go for additional blood tests to measure blood sugar levels, fasting cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
• Ultrasound
With this test, the doctor will check the shape and size of the ovaries and also the density of the uterus lining. To conduct this ultrasound, the doctor will place a stick-like device known as a transducer in the vagina. This device discharges sound waves and these waves are converted to images, which can be viewed on a computer screen.
Your doctor can also recommend other tests, such as;
• Regular blood pressure checks, blood sugar tests, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Tests for depression or anxiety.
• Tests for sleep apnea.
Treatment
The treatments for PCOS targets managing major concerns, such as infertility, excess facial hair growth, acne, and obesity. Other medications and treatments include;
• Medications
Your doctor can ask you to consume combination birth control pills, which is a mixture of estrogen and progestin. These pills will control the hormones, lowering the chances of endometrial cancer, irregular bleeding, excess growth of facial hair, and acne. Your doctor might also start progestin therapy. This involves taking the pills for 10-14 days, even month or two to help make the periods regular and shield against endometrial cancer. The other medicines are;
• Clomiphene – It is an oral anti-estrogen medicine, which is supposed to be consumed during the beginning of your period cycle.
• Letrozole – It is a breast cancer treatment, which can trigger the ovaries.
• Metformin – This is for type 2 diabetes. If you don’t conceive with clomiphene, your doctor might also prescribe this medication.
• Gonadotropins – These are hormone medication. It is given in the form of injections.
• Birth control pills – These can control excessive hair growth.
• Lifestyle Changes
To decrease the effects of PCOS, it is important to make a few lifestyle changes. Firstly, it is important to maintain an ideal weight. When you visit our Apollo Fertility, the doctor will hook you up with weight control programs for your betterment. A healthy lifestyle is the first step towards controlling your PCOS. Regular exercise and healthy food habits must also be followed.
