Dr. Patil's Diabetes, Thyroid & Hormone Clinic | Dr. Himanshu Patil
PCOS is a hormonal condition. Hormones are chemical messengers that control the way the body works. For example, during puberty hormone changes send out signals in the body to start periods in girls.
PCOS is a common condition with up to 1 in 5 women of child-bearing age affected.
In PCOS two hormones, insulin and male-type hormones are produced in higher levels, which can result in:
•• periods less regular (more or less often)
•• emotional problems (anxiety or depression)
•• hair growth on face, stomach, back
•• acne or pimples
•• easy weight gain
•• delays getting pregnant
•• type 2 diabetes
•• more risk factors for heart disease.
Not all women with PCOS will have all of these symptoms as PCOS can vary between women and changes with age.
There is currently a lot of debate about the name ‘polycystic ovary syndrome’. The name of the condition suggests the problem is mainly with the ovaries, when in fact the cause of PCOS is hormonal. The increased levels of male-type hormones are what cause the ovaries to work differently, causing many of the problems listed above.
Male-type hormones, also known as testosterone and androgens, are found in all women in small amounts. Women with PCOS produce slightly higher levels (but not as high as men).
Insulin’s most important job is to help control the sugar (glucose) levels in the body by helping to get it into the cells to be used for energy, or to send it into storage if not needed. This way, the level of glucose in the blood is always kept the same.
•• Insulin works like a key to let glucose (energy) into the body cells
•• Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance, in which the cells won’t allow insulin to work properly, resulting in higher levels of insulin in the blood
•• Higher insulin levels can make people gain weight easier and may increase appetite
•• Insulin is able to do its job better if women with PCOS exercise regularly
•• Higher insulin levels can eventually lead to pre-diabetes and to type 2 diabetes.
Most women with PCOS do not have problems getting pregnant, but some will. Also, once pregnant, some women may have more difficulties such as miscarriages and problems during birth.
The best way to increase your chances of getting pregnant is to plan your family earlier in life if possible, as your fertility decreases after the age of 35. It also helps to be as physically active as possible, and to lose a few kilos if overweight. This can make your periods more regular and help your body to produce an egg that can be fertilised.
The healthier you are, the better your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Ensure you eat a healthy, balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, and also take a folate supplement. If, after trying these things you are still unable to get pregnant, your doctor can discuss medical therapies that may help.
It is common for women with PCOS to have periods that do not come for many months, or that come too often.
The best ways to help your periods to become more regular is by:
•• lifestyle change (getting active and losing a few kilos if overweight)
•• taking the oral contraceptive pill (if not wanting to get pregnant)
•• taking a medication called metformin, which can be used for treating women with PCOS who don’t ovulate.
Having regular periods helps keep the uterus healthy, so if you have less than four periods a year, discuss this with Dr. Himanshu Patil.
If overweight, losing as little as 5-10% of body weight or even a few kilos can help improve symptoms such as irregular periods. Weight loss can also help to prevent long-term problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The diet that will be of most benefit is a balanced, healthy diet. It is important to weigh yourself weekly, but make sure you know what to do if your weight does go up a little. If you need support to help you to lose weight, then ask your doctor to refer you to someone who can help, such as a dietitian or perhaps an exercise physiologist.
Due to the higher levels of male-type hormones, it is common for women with PCOS to have increased body hair, often on the face, stomach and back, and to also have acne. Some women also have thinning hair on the top of their head. This can be one of the more difficult problems because it can make some women feel that they look different to other women.
Any of the methods of removing hair (threading, electrolysis, hair removal creams, shaving, laser therapy and waxing) can work very well, although shaving the face is not ideal as the hair can regrow more prominently.
Laser therapy is often the most effective long-term solution, but it is important to know that laser therapy works best on light-coloured skin and dark hair and must be performed by an experienced operator.
If, however, these options do not work for you, talk with your doctor about medications. The main medications for these problems are the oral contraceptive pill, though sometimes additional medications called anti-androgens can also be used for six months to help. It is very important not to get pregnant while using this anti-androgen medication, which is why you will also need to take the oral contraceptive pill at the same time.
Women with PCOS are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and to have risk factors for heart disease. There are two important ways to lower the risk of developing these conditions:
PCOS does not go away and women with it have a higher risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, and increased risk factors for heart disease.
However this condition can be completely controlled with diet exercise & appropriate medications.
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