Poly-cystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS is an endocrine disorder that causes the hormone levels to go haywire and cysts to develop on the ovaries. As a result, the woman has problems with her menstrual period and finds it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS also alters the way a woman looks and if the condition is not treated, it leads to serious health issues, including heart disease and diabetes.
The precise cause of PCOS is not known, but early diagnosis and treatment along with losing weight can help reduce the risk of complications.
Symptoms
The symptoms tend to manifest the moment a woman enters menarche. In a few cases, PCOS develops later in life, when a woman gains substantial weight. Usually, the symptoms of PCOS are very obvious and tend to get worse with obesity. Some of the signs of the condition include:
1. Irregular Periods
This is the most common symptom. Women can fail to menstruate or there is more than 35 days between the periods.
2. Weight
Major in-explainable fluctuations in weight, mostly an increase.
3. Acne
Growth of cystic and/or pus filled painfil zits around the cheeks and jaw
4. Hair
When the levels of androgen, which is a male hormone, increases, it causes the development of body and facial hair along with male pattern baldness.
5. Polycystic Ovaries
Numerous fluid-filled cysts develop on the ovaries
Usually, two of these symptoms have to be present for a doctor to diagnose PCOS. If you are worried about your menstrual periods, suffering from infertility or have signs of excessive androgen, you should consult a qualified and trained gynecologist.
Treatment
Treatment of PCOS focuses on managing its symptoms; usually, the treatment is customized to suit each patient. Namaha Healthcare in Kandivali West, Mumbai, offers a comfortable and hygienic environment to manage PCOS.
With more than seven decades of experience in gynecological health problems and treatment, the hospital tailors the treatment to manage and address individual concerns of each patient. The hospital boasts state-of-the-art gynecological care, fully equipped pathological and radiological diagnostic facilities and cosmetology unit to help plan personalized treatment plans for each PCOS patient.
Depending on the symptoms a woman experiences, Namaha Healthcare offers the following treatments for PCOS:
1. Lifestyle Changes
The doctor will work with a nutritionist to create a low-calorie diet plan to help you lose weight, in addition to moderate exercise. Even a slight reduction in weight can help improve the symptoms of PCOS.
2. Regulating Menstrual Cycle
Doctors usually recommend a combination birth control pill that contains progestin and estrogen to regulate the menstrual cycle. These pills reduce the levels of androgen, help lower the risk of endometrial cancer and rectify abnormal menstrual bleeding. This also tackles with the issue of excessive hair growth and acne spurts.
3. Improving Insulin Resistance
Doctors also prescribe metformin, which is an oral medication for patients with Type 2 diabetes. It helps to improve insulin resistance and slows down the progress of diabetes. It also aids in ovulation and can regularize your menstrual cycle.
4. Aiding in Ovulation
Since PCOS afflicts women in reproductive age, it becomes necessary for them to take medication to help them ovulate. At Namaha Healthcare, the doctor may prescribe an anti-estrogen medication that you may have to take in the initial half of your menstrual cycle. If medication doesn’t help you ovulate, you need not worry as Namaha boasts of dedicated reproductive specialists, well versed with the in-vitro fertilization unit there.
If you have or suspect you have PCOS, call today to schedule an appointment with the specialists at Namaha Healthcare.
