Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a very common condition for women and is also one of the most common causes of female infertility. Studies show that about 5 to 12% of women in the US who are of reproductive age have this condition. Not just fertility issues, but PCOS is responsible for several health-related concerns and this is the reason why you should get Fair Oaks gynecological care.
What is PCOS?
It is a condition that occurs in females due to excess amounts of androgen, which is a male sex hormone that is also is present in females but in a very little amount. In this condition, multiple cysts form in the ovaries, however in some cases, these cysts might not exist, and yet in other cases, women might have cysts in the ovary but not PCOS.
What causes this issue is not really clear, but it has been noticed that most of the women suffering from this condition have a case of insulin resistance, which means that the body is not able to use the insulin efficiently and that leads to high insulin levels which in turn may result in an increased level of androgen.
This disease comes with some comorbidities, like the person who has it is at a greater risk of getting type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and endometrial cancer.
What are the symptoms of PCOS?
There are several symptoms of this condition, which might be present in different numbers and combinations in the patients.
- Either missed or irregular periods. The periods are also very light.
- Ovarian cysts.
- Hirsutism, which means excessive growth of hair which is in a male-like pattern, especially on the face, chest, and back.
- Infertility.
- Hair fall and thinning hair.
- Skin tags in neck and armpits.
- Dark skin patches in the back of the neck, armpits, and under the breasts.
How is it treated?
The treatment of PCOS depends on a few factors like the age, severity, overall health, or if the person wants to get pregnant or not. The gynecologist decides the course of the treatment based on these factors and prescribes medicines accordingly. However, one common suggestion given to all patients is to bring lifestyle changes. In the treatment of PCOS, it is important to bring about some lifestyle changes like losing weight if you have obesity, exercising regularly, and maintaining blood sugar levels.
So, in conclusion, PCOS is a disease that needs to be managed well with the help of the right guidance of a good gynecologist.