Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, is the most common endocrine disorder in females. Five to ten percent of women at childbearing age have polycystic ovarian syndrome. However, less than fifty percent of women are diagnosed (PCOS Foundation Web). Although scientists do not know much about PCOS, they do know that it is caused by irregular hormones. Therefore, it is also believed to be genetically spread (WebMD Web). According to the PCOS Foundation, “If a mother has PCOS, there is a fifty percent chance that her daughter will have it as well,” (PCOS Foundation).
Though PCOS can be detected at a young age, cysts may develop in women between ages 35 and 40 (Ovarian Cysts 227). Approximately seven million women are affected (PCOS Foundation Web). Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome has multiple symptoms, but the main one is anovulation, or lack of ovulation. It also causes bleeding and fatigue due to the loss of iron-rich blood (Menstrual Disorders 293). With PCOS, multiple follicles, or cysts, form on the ovaries in a ‘string of pearls’ pattern but may not appear in all cases. Due to the difficulty to lose weight, PCOS can cause obesity, which may lead to low self-esteem and depression.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome can also cause irregular menstrual cycles, or oligomenorrhea. Because of the hormone imbalance, PCOS causes infertility and insulin resistance. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome also affects appearance such as dark patches of skin; skin tags; and hirsutism, or male pattern baldness. It causes stress levels to increase, which can lead to high blood pressure. Other medical problems that PCOS causes are sleep apnea, high cholesterol and high triglycerides, and Type II Diabetes. PCOS causes pelvic pain which is caused from the cysts. Due to the hormone imbalance, it also causes decreased sex drive (PCOS Foundation Web).
Testing is very important for women especially if she is having problems with her reproductive system. These tests vary from certain labs to ultrasounds (PCOS Foundation). The main lab test is run to check estrogen and testosterone levels. They also run Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH), and the LH/FSH Ratio. While running these tests, the OB/GYN has an option to send in a request to test the 17alpha- hydroxyprogesterone levels, the Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), Lipid profile (Cholesterol, triglycerides), and sex hormone binding globin.
To add to the other entire lab testing, many labs also check the Dehydroepiandosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and prolactin levels to complete the labs (Ovarian Cysts Web). There are many ways to treat Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, but all of them are surgical procedures. The main way to treat PCOS is to have a hysterectomy, or full removal of the ovaries. Many doctors do Oophorectomies, or the surgical removal of the ovaries, to prevent or treat ovarian cancer or other ovarian abnormalities (PCOS Foundation Web). Doctors can also do an Ovarian Wedge Resection, which is the removal of part of an ovary.
Many doctors recommend Ovarian Drilling, or a needle put into the ovary to pop the cysts and draw out the fluid and blood (Web MD Web). Cyst Aspiration is another form of treatment. Much like the Ovarian Drilling, doctors take a needle and pull out all of the fluid that the cyst is holding to allow it to go down (PCOS Foundation Web). There are multiple ways to manage PCOS. The most common treatment is hormone therapy. Birth Control is distributed to many teenage girls and young women to help manage the PCOS without having to have surgery.
Other forms of noninvasive management for PCOS are skin patches, synthetic progestin in the form of pills, androgen-lowering spironolactone, Metformin or Glucophage, and Clomiphene (WebMD Web). For longer lasting forms of management, women can get a vaginal ring and other implants such as birth control bars (PCOS Foundation Web). With the multiple side-effects of PCOS, doctors usually prescribe other types of medication to counteract them. Insulin sensitizing medication helps with the diabetes caused by the natural insulin resistance can help with the Type II Diabetes.
Many doctors prescribe medications to increase hair growth to help with the hair loss caused by the lack of female hormones (PCOS Foundation Web). Doctors usually give women medication for anxiety, breathing, depression, and stress (Menstrual Disorders) Due to the excessive hair growth all over the body many women take it upon themselves to have laser hair removal (PCOS Foundation). Many women who have been diagnosed with this disorder have difficulty with fertility. Usually, the OB/GYN will monitor his or her patient’s ovulation and menstrual cycles. He or she can give the patient medication for fertility to help advance the ovulation cycle.
Many women choose to lean more towards the In-Vitro Fertilization, or IVF, to help with the fertilization process. Others will choose a more external process called Artificial Insemination. This is when the egg is fertilized in a Petri dish and placed in the woman’s uterus. If all else fails, women can choose to use a surrogate mother or adopt (Advanced Fertility). Many women turn to simpler alternatives to help with her Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. One can go to the general store or pharmacy to purchase vitamins and minerals to help her with fertilization, hair growth, and many other symptoms of PCOS.
Nutrition education and diet modification are highly recommended by OB/GYNs to help with the risks and side-effects of PCOS. As does every other doctor, OB/GYNs also recommend exercise to help with weight and ensure that the heart is properly functioning correctly. One of the main suggestions that are usually bypassed by many women is to not smoke, and if she does then quit. Smoking is harmful and can also cause negative effects on the reproductive system as a whole (PCOS Management). Many women, including myself, have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Mine was diagnosed in July of this year (2015).
Many famous women, such as Whitney Thore, also have PCOS. Whitney explains, “My initial weight gain in college was 100 lbs. in eight months. I absolutely blame that on PCOS. It happened out of nowhere; I had no control over it. But since then, of course, I’ve continued to gain weight. What made me fat was a combination of PCOS and the shame and the stigma that you face being a fat woman in America. When I gained weight, did I want to leave my house? No. When I walked to the gym and people called me a fat ass, did that make me want to go work out? No.
Did I want to take really good care of myself? No. But if anybody thinks that I just blame the fact that I’m 380 lbs. on PCOS, that’s clearly wrong. ” My aunt also has PCOS. She has had two miscarriages and high infertility. As she learned more about her condition, her doctors helped her, with the use of fertility medication and tests, to conceive and give birth to three healthy children. My symptoms are the same as many usual women with the condition. I have irregular menstrual cycles, causing my doctor to use the try-and-fail method to find a birth control to help me with hormone regulation.
I have a harder time losing weight than the average teenager, and it is very easy for me to gain significant amounts in very short periods of time. My hair has been falling out in large amounts, and mostly, I have multiple large cysts on my right ovary. On August 28, I passed out due to immense pain and had to go to the emergency room. The hospital did ultrasounds and found a cyst that measured to six centimeters. They put an IV in my arm and pushed pain medication and informed me that it was partially ruptured. As I learned how PCOS would affect my body, I did face depression and anxiety having to explain to everyone what would happen.
I’ve learned to live and accept my body and my PCOS even though it is hard. I have also place a lot of reliance and dependence on my faith to help me through this difficult part of my life. It is the positive aspects of distraction that will help me through these things, and I am relying on my faith, family, and friends to help me cope. Out of all the childbearing women, five to ten percent have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. There is no true cure and it cannot be prevented, but gaining so much knowledge about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is important for all women at the age of being able to bear a child to learn.
Most importantly, she should be tested at her first OB/GYN appointment, which is a recommended age of 13. It is very important for the young female to report any and all symptoms to her gynecologist at her first visit and keep a record of any unusual symptoms and keep a “period diary” to keep track of her menstrual cycle, including the beginning, the end, and the trend of the flow, along with any symptoms such as headaches, backaches, fatigue, etc. , that she may not usually experience. Though Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects many women, they live a normal life like any other woman.
