PCOS is an abbreviation widely used for poly-cystic ovaries syndrome that is a condition in which hormonal changes occur affecting the reproductive system of the female body. The female body undergoes a lot of changes due to this hormonal imbalance. And as the development of egg is under the control of hormonal changes, the disturbance in hormones may lead to a situation where eggs are not produced by the ovaries. That’s why PCOS is related to infertility.
It is the most common hormonal issue in the female of child-bearing age. Its symptoms can be seen after the start of monthly menstruation.
The female ovaries produce fluid-filled sacs called follicles. One of the follicles matures into the egg. PCOS affects fertility because women with this disorder do not release an egg, each month due to an overproduction of estrogen by the ovaries. Because ovulation does not occur regularly, periods become irregular and increased levels of hormones such as testosterone can affect egg quality, suppress ovulation, lead to insulin resistance, and increase the risk of gestational diabetes.
The United States’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) notes that PCOS affects 5–10 percent of women aged 15–44 years. According to them, PCOS is a “common and treatable cause of infertility.”
Causes
The exact cause of PCOS is still unknown but genetic causes can be the reason. If you have a family history of PCOS, you have more chances to develop it.
Similarly, high blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance also lead to the overproduction of insulin. In return this causes PCOS. Most probably obesity causes insulin resistance.
Symptoms:
Symptoms can occur at any age or time during a woman’s childbearing years. Symptoms can also change over time.
Some of the most common symptoms of PCOS include the following:
- abnormal hair growth on the face, chest, or back (hirsutism)
- acne or darkening of the skin
- weight gain
- thinning hair on the head and alopecia
- infertility
- irregular periods
- ovarian cysts
- depression
- increased skin tags
it is not necessary to have all these symptoms in a single patient. Symptoms vary from person to person.
Fertility treatment:
Women having PCOS who want to get pregnant need the treatment of this condition. Following are the main treatment goal;
- production of a mature egg
- production of healthy fertile egg
- balancing the hormones of the body (required for pregnancy)
- controlling other factors (blood sugar, obesity) for a better pregnancy
Here are some treatment plans for treating this condition;
- lifestyle changes, dietary changes, and exercise
- fertility medications for egg production in the form of tablets
- fertility injections to release a mature egg
IVF (in-vitro fertilization) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) are other options for achieving a healthy pregnancy. In IVF, the egg is fertilized outside the female body and then placed in the female uterus. And in IUI, healthy sperms are placed in the female uterus to facilitate fertilization. It increases the chance of getting pregnant due to an increasing number of sperms reaching the fallopian tubes or ovaries.
Health risks:
Some important health risks are associated with PCOS;
- diabetes
- high cholesterol levels
- uterine (endometrial) cancer
- abnormality in ovaries like an ovarian tumor
Early diagnosis is the best option while dealing with PCOS. As at an early stage, its treatment can be easy and effective. You can consult your gynecologist for the best suggestion regarding your periods and overweight body. You can consult the best gynecologist in Karachi through Marham.
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