FAQsQuestionI'm 22 yrs old and have had problems with my periods for the last few years. I saw my doctor last week and he said I could have something called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. He organised for some blood tests and an ultrasound and I'm still waiting for the results. I've never heard of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Is it dangerous? Answer The name Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome( often abbreviated to PCOS) is probably a bit misleading. Instead of producing the usual single follicle from the ovary every month which contains a mature egg, women with PCOS produce a number of smaller follicles. These often don't go on to ovulate, but do keep producing hormones called androgens. The ovaries of women with PCOS are often slightly larger on ultrasound examination,and usually have a string of these small follicles lined up around the ouside . Women with PCOS often have irregular menstrual cycles and because of the extra androgen hormones they may also have problems with acne and excess body hair (hirsutism). Those with longer cycles often take longer to fall pregnant simply because they are ovulating less often every year. Many women with PCOS have great difficulty controlling their weight because of a low metabolic rate, and a tendency to produce higher levels of insulin. Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas and is responsible for absorbing sugar from the food we eat.This can be a real problem, not only because all the symptoms of PCOS tend to get worse as a woman's weight increases, but also because it can eventually lead to failure of insulin production and even diabetes later in life. PCOS seems to run in families. Symptoms can vary from just an occasional missed period and just a little more acne than usual all the way through to no periods at all severe acne, excess body hair and diabetes. Treatment depends on the type of symptoms and their severity.The most important thing of all is to try to keep body weight down through regular exercise and by following a diet high in foods with a low glycaemic index. These are foods that are metabolised slowly-reducing the tendency to over-produce insulin. Doctors often prescribe the oral contraceptive pill to regulate the menstrual cycle. Some contraceptive pills are also specially designed to reduce the symptoms of acne and hirsuitism as well. If there are already some problems with insulin production then some doctors will prescribe medications that reduce blood sugar levels. If a woman is having trouble getting pregnant because she is not ovulating very often, then there are also drugs that can be used to stimulate ovulation and increase the chances of pregnancy. The bottom line is that if Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is detected early and well managed with the right lifestyle and medications it should not really be a problem for most women who have this fairly common condition. Further reading: |
