POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN

What is polycystic ovary syndrome? What are its clinical treatments and home remedies?

What is polycystic ovary syndrome? What are its clinical treatments and home remedies?  Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a medical condition in which the females have many fluid-filled cystic cavities within their ovaries. It is an endocrine problem occurring due to an imbalance in hormone levels.

 The female suffering from it might experience irregular menstrual cycles. It is the most common cause of infertility in women of reproductive age. Moreover, more than 50 percent of women suffering from PCOS are obese. This condition can’t be cured but is still treatable.

In this article, you'll know more about polycystic ovary syndrome, its clinical treatments, and home remedies.

More on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex medical condition which possesses the following main features:

• Increased androgen levels,
•  Menstrual problems and irregularities
• Small fluid-filled cysts on one or both ovaries

The sacs or cysts present in the ovary are actually immature follicles, each containing an immature egg. As the eggs do not mature, so the female does not ovulate and becomes infertile.1

Causes of PCOS

Still, doctors are unaware of the exact reason for PCOS. However, some factors are associated with PCOS as studies have shown that these factors play a role in PCOS occurrence. These include:

• Genetic Predisposition: Most of the females, whose mother also suffered from PCOS, also get this condition. Thus, it is believed that genes play a role in the development of this disease.
• Inflammatory Conditions: Many diseases trigger inflammation within the ovary. This disrupts the normal ovary functionality and so leading to PCOS.
• Insulin Resistance: Studies have shown that PCOS patients have insulin resistance. It means that they can’t utilize their insulin and are also obese.
• Elevated Androgens: Every PCOS sufferer has increased androgen levels, and these androgens trigger cysts formation within the ovary because they disrupt normal growth and development of follicles.2

Symptoms of PCOS

Women start to experience the following symptoms as they start getting cysts in their ovaries:

• Infertility: If treatment is not done, PCOS patients may not ovulate for a chronic period. This may make the female infertile.
• Headaches:  Hormonal changes may cause headaches in some women.
• Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is characterized by an inability to breathe during sleep. Studies have shown that PCOS patient has sleep problems, including sleep apnea. 
• Male-pattern baldness: Hair fall occurs due to increased androgen levels.
• Abnormal and irregular periods: Due to no egg ovulation, uterus comes out of the influence of hormones of the menstrual cycle. Thus, the female does not menstruate as uterus lining does not develop.3
• Acne: Androgens can make skin oilier and cause acne.
• Hirsutism: Excess hair growth in a female is called hirsutism. More than 70 percent of women with this PCOS get hirsutism on their faces and other parts of the body.
• Skin darkening: Hormonal imbalance may cause dark patches on different skin areas with creases like those on the neck, armpit, in the groin, and under the breasts.
• Mood Disorders: Women with PCOS have personality and mood disorders and live a poor quality of life. They are socially and mentally disturbed too.
• Weight Gain: Almost eight percent of women with PCOS are obese.4

Clinical Treatments of PCOS

As stated already, there is no cure for PCOS, but certain available treatments are able to manage the symptoms of the affected female. Following are the recommended options if the female chooses to become pregnant and decrease the chance of future PCOS occurrence:

• Birth control pills: Birth control pills constitute estrogen, progesterone, or progestins, etc. These help to regulate female hormones.
• Fertility drugs: If the female desires pregnancy despite having PCOS, a drug by the name of Clomid, a combination of clomiphene and metformin, can be used. In certain situations, female gonadotropins, FSH, and LH, might be injected intravenously.
• Management of diabetes: Drugs like metformin are used to manage diabetes in PCOS patients.
• Reduction of hirsutism: Spironolactone or eflornithine may be recommended to decrease hair growth, but these drugs should not be taken and handled by women who are pregnant as they can become toxic to fetus.
• Surgical interventions: Surgical options include procedures such as ovarian drilling, oophorectomy, hysterectomy, and cyst aspiration are also available.5

Home Remedies for PCOS patient

Following remedies might be useful for PCOS prevention:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Cessation of smoking
• Avoidance of stress and anxiety

The Bottom Line

If you’re having with PCOS or experiencing its symptoms, you may feel disturbed and stressed at times. It is because PCOS disrupts a woman’s menstrual cycles and also make it difficult to become pregnant. Strictly follow pieces of advice given by your doctor. Also, medicines can alternatively be used if home remedies don’t work. Moreover, if your symptoms persist, you should go to your doctor.