Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOS)
A metabolic disorder (also called Stein-Leventhal syndrome) in which cysts develop on a teenage girl’s ovaries as the level of male hormones in her body increases. Many of these girls also develop insulin resistance.
Polycystic ovary disease (PCOS) was first recognized in 1935, but doctors are not sure what causes it. The condition may be related to excess insulin production, which could signal the body to release extra male hormones. PCOS seems to have a genetic component as well.
Between 6 percent and 10 percent of teenage girls have PCOS. If not treated, it can lead to infertility, excessive hair growth, ACNE, diabetes, heart disease, uterine bleeding, and cancer. Proper treatment for PCOS, however, can prevent these problems.
Cause
The cause of the syndrome is not clear, although many experts believe the underlying cause of PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that seems to be linked to the way a girl’s body processes insulin, resulting in higher-than-normal levels of male hormones. PCOS also may be partially genetic.
In a girl with PCOS, the ovaries produce higherthan- normal amounts of androgens, which can interfere with egg production. The eggs that the ovaries normally produce develop into cysts. Instead of being released during ovulation as an egg would be during a normal menstrual cycle, the cysts build up in the ovaries and may become enlarged. Because the cyst production interferes with the menstrual cycle, it is common for girls with PCOS to have irregular or missed periods.
Symptoms
The long list of baffling symptoms and conditions can affect not only a girl’s long-term physical health but her psychological health as well. There are many signs of PCOS caused by the increased androgen levels, which affects not only the reproductive system but also the hair and skin.
• Missed period A lack of ovulation can result in skipped or irregular periods. However, because it can take up to two years before menstruation becomes regular, doctors look for other symptoms that might indicate PCOS.
• Abdominal discomfort Severe premenstrual symptoms may appear, such as cramping, bloating, and irritability. Some doctors think the abdominal discomfort is caused by the enlarged ovaries filled with cysts.
• Weight gain Girls with PCOS may gain weight easily or be overweight, carrying the extra weight in the abdominal area. However, only about half of the girls with PCOS are overweight, so it is possible to be a normal weight and still have PCOS.
• High blood pressure
• Hirsutism Extra hair may appear on the face, chest, abdomen, nipples, or backs.
• Acne Increased acne and clogged pores
• Pigment changes There may be darkened skin around the neck or armpits or under the breasts.
• Hair loss
More potentially dangerous conditions may be related to PCOS if the syndrome is left untreated, including:
• Uterine cancer High levels of male hormones may mean fewer periods, which could put a girl at risk for uterine cancer if PCOS is not treated.
• Diabetes Some girls with PCOS have problems using their insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for adult-onset (type-2) diabetes.
• Heart disease Girls with high insulin levels can also have low levels of high-density lipoprotein, (good cholesterol) and high levels of other fats. These factors can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke later in life.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis and treatment for PCOS are important because the condition can put girls at risk for long-term problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and breast and uterine cancer. The doctor will take a detailed medical background about menstruation and any hormonal medications. A physical and pelvic exam might be conducted.
Blood testing could reveal abnormalities in hormone levels, insulin and glucose levels, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels. An ultrasound may be used to look at the ovaries and to determine the presence of cysts, although they are not always visible.
Treatment
A combination of diet, exercise, and medication can help treat PCOS in girls before the condition causes permanent damage.
Diet and exercise Diet is one of the most important steps in managing PCOS, because losing weight will affect the high insulin state. Cutting down on carbohydrates, like breads, cereals, and pastas, and eating more fruits, grains, and vegetables also can help to regulate the insulin response. Exercise can help the body use insulin better and help drop weight.
Medications Some medications are effective in treating PCOS. Most common are birth control pills, which can help to regulate the androgen levels in the body and regulate the menstrual cycle. Birth control pills may help the symptoms of acne and excessive hair growth. Other medications used to treat PCOS include antiandrogens such as spironolactone and flutamide, which can help clear up the skin and hair problems associated with PCOS.
Metformin is a medication that stimulates insulin uptake, lowering insulin levels, and helps manage excess weight in girls with significantly high insulin levels. Some girls and women who have used metformin have experienced weight loss, lowered blood pressure, and more regular menstrual cycles. Getting treated for PCOS is also a good idea if you want to have a baby someday. PCOS often causes infertility if it is not treated, but when it is treated properly, many women with PCOS are able to have healthy babies.
Surgery Ovarian drilling is available to treat PCOS. In this procedure, a very small incision is made above or below the navel, and a small tool (laparoscope) is inserted into the abdomen. Using a small needle that carries electric current or a laser, the doctor can make punctures in the ovary, destroying a small part of the ovary. However, this surgery should not be the first fertility treatment option, because its success rate is less than 50 percent.
Polycystic ovary disease (PCOS) was first recognized in 1935, but doctors are not sure what causes it. The condition may be related to excess insulin production, which could signal the body to release extra male hormones. PCOS seems to have a genetic component as well.
Between 6 percent and 10 percent of teenage girls have PCOS. If not treated, it can lead to infertility, excessive hair growth, ACNE, diabetes, heart disease, uterine bleeding, and cancer. Proper treatment for PCOS, however, can prevent these problems.
Cause
The cause of the syndrome is not clear, although many experts believe the underlying cause of PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that seems to be linked to the way a girl’s body processes insulin, resulting in higher-than-normal levels of male hormones. PCOS also may be partially genetic.
In a girl with PCOS, the ovaries produce higherthan- normal amounts of androgens, which can interfere with egg production. The eggs that the ovaries normally produce develop into cysts. Instead of being released during ovulation as an egg would be during a normal menstrual cycle, the cysts build up in the ovaries and may become enlarged. Because the cyst production interferes with the menstrual cycle, it is common for girls with PCOS to have irregular or missed periods.
Symptoms
The long list of baffling symptoms and conditions can affect not only a girl’s long-term physical health but her psychological health as well. There are many signs of PCOS caused by the increased androgen levels, which affects not only the reproductive system but also the hair and skin.
• Missed period A lack of ovulation can result in skipped or irregular periods. However, because it can take up to two years before menstruation becomes regular, doctors look for other symptoms that might indicate PCOS.
• Abdominal discomfort Severe premenstrual symptoms may appear, such as cramping, bloating, and irritability. Some doctors think the abdominal discomfort is caused by the enlarged ovaries filled with cysts.
• Weight gain Girls with PCOS may gain weight easily or be overweight, carrying the extra weight in the abdominal area. However, only about half of the girls with PCOS are overweight, so it is possible to be a normal weight and still have PCOS.
• High blood pressure
• Hirsutism Extra hair may appear on the face, chest, abdomen, nipples, or backs.
• Acne Increased acne and clogged pores
• Pigment changes There may be darkened skin around the neck or armpits or under the breasts.
• Hair loss
More potentially dangerous conditions may be related to PCOS if the syndrome is left untreated, including:
• Uterine cancer High levels of male hormones may mean fewer periods, which could put a girl at risk for uterine cancer if PCOS is not treated.
• Diabetes Some girls with PCOS have problems using their insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for adult-onset (type-2) diabetes.
• Heart disease Girls with high insulin levels can also have low levels of high-density lipoprotein, (good cholesterol) and high levels of other fats. These factors can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke later in life.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis and treatment for PCOS are important because the condition can put girls at risk for long-term problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and breast and uterine cancer. The doctor will take a detailed medical background about menstruation and any hormonal medications. A physical and pelvic exam might be conducted.
Blood testing could reveal abnormalities in hormone levels, insulin and glucose levels, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels. An ultrasound may be used to look at the ovaries and to determine the presence of cysts, although they are not always visible.
Treatment
A combination of diet, exercise, and medication can help treat PCOS in girls before the condition causes permanent damage.
Diet and exercise Diet is one of the most important steps in managing PCOS, because losing weight will affect the high insulin state. Cutting down on carbohydrates, like breads, cereals, and pastas, and eating more fruits, grains, and vegetables also can help to regulate the insulin response. Exercise can help the body use insulin better and help drop weight.
Medications Some medications are effective in treating PCOS. Most common are birth control pills, which can help to regulate the androgen levels in the body and regulate the menstrual cycle. Birth control pills may help the symptoms of acne and excessive hair growth. Other medications used to treat PCOS include antiandrogens such as spironolactone and flutamide, which can help clear up the skin and hair problems associated with PCOS.
Metformin is a medication that stimulates insulin uptake, lowering insulin levels, and helps manage excess weight in girls with significantly high insulin levels. Some girls and women who have used metformin have experienced weight loss, lowered blood pressure, and more regular menstrual cycles. Getting treated for PCOS is also a good idea if you want to have a baby someday. PCOS often causes infertility if it is not treated, but when it is treated properly, many women with PCOS are able to have healthy babies.
Surgery Ovarian drilling is available to treat PCOS. In this procedure, a very small incision is made above or below the navel, and a small tool (laparoscope) is inserted into the abdomen. Using a small needle that carries electric current or a laser, the doctor can make punctures in the ovary, destroying a small part of the ovary. However, this surgery should not be the first fertility treatment option, because its success rate is less than 50 percent.
Tags: excess insulin production, metabolic disorder, Ovarian drilling, PCOS, Polycystic Ovary Disease, Stein-Leventhal syndrome
Posted in Health and Wellness
Comments (1)
It’s excellent that you are promoting awareness of PCOS – thank you.
However, there is misleading information on your site and I feel it’s important to correct it so that teenagers – and all women – can be properly diagnosed with this condition.
This is particularly important because of the risk of serious, long-term health conditions to women with PCOS, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The first paragraph on your site today – which I have pasted below – infers that
cysts on the ovaries are always a symptom of PCOS.
PCOS can present with a variety
of symptoms which can vary from woman to woman. Symptoms may include ovarian cysts but not always.
Additionally, PCOS does not always start when one is a teenager.
Finally, research points to insulin resistance as being one of the primary factors underlying PCOS – and not just a condition that they may develop as your comment implies.
Again, I applaud your site for
promoting awareness of PCOS – it’s so important. Let’s work together to ensure that the information we’re putting out there is accurate and helpful.
THE PARAGRAPH THAT APPEARS ON YOUR SITE TODAY:
“A metabolic disorder (also called Stein-Leventhal syndrome) in which cysts develop on a teenage girl’s ovaries as the level of male hormones in her body increases. Many of these girls also develop insulin resistance.”