PCOS or PCOD is a hormonal disorder that is associated with female reproduction system. It can cause many symptoms which can be started as early as puberty and affect fertility, menstrual cycle, and hormones.
Millions of women around the world suffer from PCOS. The condition is often hard to diagnose, and it can be difficult to recognize and manage.
Women with PCOS have an increased risk of suffering from conditions such as type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. This can lead to complications like heart disease and stroke.
The common signs and symptoms of PCOS are:
- missed or irregular periods,
- heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding,
- ovarian cysts, acne,
- hair growth on the upper lip, chest and body.
The most common causes of PCOS are:
- excess insulin from high carbohydrate diets,
- high levels of male hormones from chemicals such as dioxin or diethylstilbestrol,
- genetic mutations in the brain’s response to hormones such as luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.
When to see a doctor?
If you have unexplained weight gain, hair loss or thinning, acne or skin tags then you should see your doctor or If a woman has irregular or absent periods and is feeling symptoms of PCOS, it is important to see a GYNECOLOGIST. We at our center may perform blood tests and give the patient a pelvic examination.
A doctor wishes to know when an irregular or absent period occurs, the frequency of symptoms, and how long they have been occurring. They will also want to know about any other conditions including diabetes, thyroid disorders, drug abuse, or cancer.
The good news is that there are plenty of remedies for PCOS available today to help you reduce the unpleasant symptoms.
There are many ways to manage PCOS but there’s no surefire treatment for PCOS.
There are a variety of treatments available for the PCOS or PCOD including the following:
1) Diet– some studies show that a low-GI diet may help those diagnosed with hormonal disorders such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
2) Weight loss– in overweight patients, weight loss helps regulate menstrual cycles and improve fertility
3) Metformin- an oral medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes that may also help women with PCOD.