Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is a condition in which women of child-bearing age develop a hormonal imbalance. If you have PCOS, your levels of the male androgen hormones are too high, which can cause symptoms such as:

Irregular Periods

Your periods may be irregular or infrequent, or your menstrual cycle might last longer than usual. Pain, cramping, and heavy bleeding are also common problems for women with PCOS. These menstrual difficulties can be severe enough to have a significant impact on your quality of life.

Acne

Acne is a distressing skin condition where you continuously get pimples on your face and often on your body, too. There are different types of pimples; for example, cysts can be large and painful, while pustules are smaller and form clusters.

Weight gain

Women who have PCOS often have problems with their weight. You might find it difficult or impossible to lose weight despite following a strict diet plan.

PCOS can also cause problems like male pattern baldness and hirsutism (excessive growth of body and facial hair).

Cysts can form on your ovaries, but not all women with PCOS have ovarian cysts.

What complications can PCOS cause?

PCOS is a complex disorder that often affects multiple systems in your body. One of the main problems PCOS can cause is insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the levels of sugar in your blood and is essential to your metabolism. Lack of insulin can lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes and cause gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

The other major complication of PCOS is infertility. If you're trying for a baby and you're unable to conceive, PCOS may be the reason.

How is PCOS treated?

When treating PCOS, Ideal Gynecology, LLC, focuses on relieving your symptoms. As each woman experiences different symptoms, treatment can vary accordingly. Your main problem might be your weight or acne, while heavy bleeding or infertility are the key issues for other women.

It's important to take a holistic view of your health when you have PCOS, so Ideal Gynecology, LLC, supports you with making any necessary lifestyle changes. Healthy eating and exercise are vital to managing PCOS.

You might need to use hormone medication to address menstruation problems – oral contraceptives can be effective if you're not planning to get pregnant. If you are hoping to conceive, your provider at Ideal Gynecology, LLC, can prescribe medications to help with ovulation.

You could also benefit from undergoing a procedure like endometrial ablation to reduce or eliminate heavy bleeding. Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive way of removing the endometrium – the lining of your uterus. It's an effective way of treating bleeding problems but is only suitable for women who don't want to become pregnant.

For help with your PCOS symptoms, call Ideal Gynecology, LLC, today or book an appointment online.