Time to seriously think of PCOS

By Dr. Shweta Goswami    

PCOS which is called Poly cystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal imbalance disorder in which woman’s levels of sex hormones estrogen and progesterone gets out of balance. This leads to growth of ovarian cysts. To elaborate what actually cysts is that in girls with PCOS, the ovaries produce higher levels of androgen than normal, and this interferes with egg development and release. Some of the eggs develop into cysts which are little sacs filled with liquid and instead of being released during ovulation, these cysts build up in the ovaries and even get enlarged , hence the name poly cystic ovaries or Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. Thus a girl or woman with PCOS does not actually have cysts in her ovaries, she has lots of egg follicles in various stages of maturation which on an ultrasound give the appearance of numerous fluid filled cysts in both ovaries  

Mostly more than half of women with poly cystic ovary syndrome don't even realize they have PCOS; mainly hormonal imbalances and genetics play a pivotal role in developing PCOS.   

Women with infrequent menstrual periods or irregular bleeding are likely to have PCOS. Moreover if you notice these symptoms in your body then please do consult a good IVF specialist as PCOS could give you infertility as well which means that you are unable to get pregnant on your own.  

One should consider getting evaluated for PCOS if:   

• you  have irregular menstrual cycle or prolonged cycles (beyond 35 days or so)
• increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes 
• your skin is breaking out or you get acne, oily skin, or you are getting dandruff  
• you have gained extra weight around your tummy   
• darkening of skin around your neck    

If PCOS is not diagnosed early and treated properly it can lead to problems as well like type 2 diabetes , high cholesterol, high blood pressure, abnormal bleeding from the uterus, and very occasionally cancer too. The most important step is screening the condition and PCOS can be easily diagnosed through Blood tests and Ultrasound and therefore the chances of having serious side effects are reduced. The important thing is to diagnose PCOS early or to "catch the disease at a young age" so that prompt lifestyle modifications, exercise and medicines can spare you from long term health consequences of PCOS.  

In today’s time PCOS can be treated using various medications and other techniques like weight loss and exercise. These are very effective in lessening many of the health conditions associated with this disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Even with very high BMIs i.e obese women, losing around just 8-10% of weight and regular exercise especially abdominal exercises can go a long way in staying fit and away from long term health conditions and morbidities. Apart from this, medications are also available which counter the effects of excess androgen in a woman’s body. A woman with PCOS can also take hormonal treatment to keep new hair from growing.  

A healthy and holistic diet along with regular exercise is recommended for all women with PCOS, particularly those who are overweight. This lifestyle change will help to regulate your menstrual cycle and lower your blood glucose levels.  

Prevention is always better than cure; the earlier your PCOS is diagnosed and treated, the lower your risk of developing these complications.