Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also known as Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD), Fucntional ovarian hyperandrogenism, Ovarian hyperthecosis, Sclerocystic Ovary Syndrome, or Stein-Leventhal Syndrome is an endocrine disorder that affects about 5-6 % of all women. PCOS is also known to be the leading cause of infertility among women (commonly diagnosed after failed pregnancies).

Most doctors are unclear about what actually causes PCOS, but one major theory is that the body produces too many follicles (or cysts) each month but does not produce an egg. This is believed to cause the body in turn to emit too much of the male hormone, androgen.

Releasing to much of these hormones causes a lot of symptoms to appear which include but are not limited to: depression, obesity (one out of every two women with PCOS are obese), irregular, few or no menstrual cycles, extra hair (facial and body hair, especially on or around your lips, chin, and belly), loss of hair (scalp), skin tags, skin discoloration (around neck or shoulders), acne/oily skin, and excess weight (especially in the middle of your person).

Talk with your doctor if you have any or all of those symptoms. Being diagnosed is not easy (and will certainly try your patience), you will have to succumb to a lot of testing which will include a health and physical, where your doctor will (or should) calculate your Body Mass Index and your blood pressure (to test if it is abnormally high). You will also need to get an ultra sound to see if you have cysts in your ovaries. And then you will be tested to rule out hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes, both of which can have similar symptoms.

Your doctor may prescribe moderate to vigorous exercise such as walking or jogging. Along with a low glycemic load diet which should include lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans, and wheat. This diet should steer away from saturated fats such as meats, cheeses, and fried foods.

Commonly, doctors prescribe birth control pills to women with PCOS because it helps to regulate your menstrual cycle along with losing excess wieght. Another common prescribed medication is a anti-diabetic pill called Metformin (glucophage). Metformin also helps to lower your wieght and your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone(or TSH), which can help regulate your menstrual cycle and other symptoms as well.

If you are trying to become pregnant, doctors usually prescribe a fertility drug called Clomid (also known as clomphene or serophene), this drug can cause blurred vision as a side affect so be careful when driving or operating heavy machinery. Clomid helps to stimulate ovulation which could cause multiple births.

Along with Clomid there is fertility treatments that could help you become pregnant such as Invitro-Fertilization (IVF) or Laparoscopic Ovarian Diathermy (LOD, also known as 'ovarian drilling'). Both IVF and LOD are both ovarian stimulating procedures and vary slightly.

A good way to deal with the emotional stress of PCOS is to attend support groups. One such support group has a website, http://www.soulcysters.com/index.html where you can find a link to forums, find local meetings, and find a way to connect with others coping with this condition.

The best of luck to you and yours!

http://health.yahoo.com/reproductive-overview/what-is-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/healthwise--tw9104.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/polycystic_ovary_syndrome

http://www.womentowomen.com/insulinresistence/pcos.aspx?id=22&campaignno=pcosContent&adgroup=ag1pcos&adtype=content&keywords=pcos

http://health.yahoo.com/reproductive-medications/clomiphene/healthwise--d00569a1.html

http://www.womens-health.co.uk/pcos5.asp