What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome? What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment? Can PCOS come back after treatment? All these questions and more are answered by Bedaya Hospital in this blog.
Overview
Have You Ever Wondered, Why God made the ovaries in our bodies? The ovaries are one of the most important parts of the female reproductive system. Every woman has two ovaries on either side of the uterus, and each ovary is in the shape and size of an almond. Eggs grow and mature in the ovary once a month during the years of reproductive potential. Sometimes cysts appear on the ovaries, which are called “PCOS”, a condition whose scientific name is “polycystic ovary syndrome”.
Polycystic Ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder in women. In polycystic ovary syndrome, the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of “androgens,” which are male sex hormones that are usually found in women in small quantities.
Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome:
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Missing your period
• Light menstrual cycle
• Infertility
• Large ovaries or many cysts
• body hair on the chest, stomach, and back (Hirsutism)
• Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
• Acne
• Oily skin
• Baldness similar to male baldness
• Hair loss
• Skin tags on the neck or armpits
• Dark or thickened skin patches on the back of the neck, armpits, and under the breasts.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment
Polycystic ovary syndrome treatment focuses on treating symptoms that are usually annoying to the woman and affect her daily life. In some cases, some lifestyle changes can help treat polycystic ovary syndrome. But in other cases, treating polycystic ovary syndrome requires medications or surgery.
Lifestyle changes
If you have polycystic ovary syndrome, you often need to change your lifestyle, so Bedaya Hospital offers you some advice for a healthy lifestyle:
A healthy weight: Losing weight may help lower insulin and androgen levels. It can also help restore ovulation efficiency.
Reduce Your Carbohydrate Intake: Choose complex carbohydrates that raise blood sugar more slowly. Complex carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and cooked dried peas.
Physical activity: physical activities and Exercises help lower blood sugar levels. Increasing your daily activity and participating in a regular exercise program may help you treat insulin resistance.
Ask your doctor at Bedaya Hospital about a weight control program.
Medicines
The most common Polycystic ovary syndrome treatment is medication, including:
Combined birth control pills: Pills that contain both estrogen and progestin reduce androgen production and regulate estrogen levels.
Progestin therapy: Taking progestin for 10 to 14 days every month or two helps regulate the menstrual cycle and prevents endometrial cancer.
The following medications are also used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome:
• Metformin.
• Clomiphene Citrate.
• Spironolactone.
• Eflornithine.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment Surgery
It has now become rare to use surgery as a polycystic ovary syndrome treatment because there are many treatment options that are less effortful and expensive like ovulation-stimulating medications. Polycystic ovary syndrome treatment surgery is only performed for cases that have not responded to treatment to stimulate ovulation with pills.
Bedaya Hospital provides two types of polycystic ovary syndrome treatment surgery:
Laparoscopic surgery
In Laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon will make small incisions in the abdomen through which the laparoscope (a thin, lighted tube equipped with a camera) can be inserted. The pelvis is then inflated so that the doctor can see the cysts. When the cysts are seen, the doctor removes them through the small incisions he made in the skin. Some research has proven that ovulation occurs after this procedure in about 70% of cases.
Laparotomy surgery
The doctor recommends the procedure if there are large ovarian cysts or if the doctor suspects the presence of cancer cells. In laparotomy surgery the doctor will make a large incision in the abdomen so he can access the cysts and remove them. The woman may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after laparotomy surgery. The duration of removing the cyst from the ovary by opening the abdomen takes one to two hours, and is also performed under general anesthesia.
Laparoscopic surgery takes a shorter recovery time and causes less pain than laparotomy surgery.
IVF Treatment for PCOS
If the previous treatments did not work for your condition, IVF may be the best solution. IVF achieves amazing results in treating polycystic ovary syndrome. Doctors use different medications for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. These medications aim to stimulate the ovaries to produce mature eggs. When the eggs have developed, they are retrieved from the ovaries in a procedure called oocyte retrieval, and then These eggs are fertilized with sperm using ICSI.
So, IVF makes pregnancy possible by placing pre-washed sperm directly into the uterus. But this treatment will not work for women who are not ovulating or who have irregular ovulation.
Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescence
Doctors do not recommend polycystic ovary syndrome treatment surgery In Adolescence except in limited cases and in cases of severe cysts. The symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome can be controlled during adolescence by losing weight, exercising, and following a healthy lifestyle. Medications and hormonal therapy can also be used during adolescence.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment to Get Pregnant
There are some medications that treat polycystic ovary syndrome and help you ovulate in order to get pregnant, including:
Clomiphene: This oral anti-estrogen medication is taken during the first phase of the menstrual cycle.
Letrozole (Femara): This treatment for breast cancer may be effective in stimulating the ovaries.
Gonadotropins: A group of hormonal medications taken by injection that help stimulate ovulation.
Metformin: If pregnancy does not occur after using clomiphene, the doctor may recommend taking metformin along with it to stimulate ovulation. It is a medication intended for type 2 diabetics that is taken orally to relieve insulin resistance and lower insulin levels.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment by Herbs
Sometimes women search for more information about polycystic ovary syndrome treatment by herbs. Bedaya Hospital advises you to talk to your doctor before taking any herbal supplement, as their claims have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Polycystic ovary syndrome treatment by herbs includes:
Androgenic herbs: Androgenic herbs restore the balance between these hormones, and they also work to regulate the menstrual cycle.
Maca root: Maca root helps with low cortisol levels and depression, which can be a symptom of PCOS.
Ashwagandha herb: This herb may balance cortisol levels, improve symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, and reduce stress and depression.
Basil herb: It works to treat chemical and metabolic stress in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Licorice root: Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which is an anti-inflammatory substance and, therefore helps treat the inflammation associated with ovarian cysts.
Probiotic herb: The probiotic herb helps treat polycystic ovary syndrome, by reducing inflammation and regulating androgen and estrogen hormones.
Tribulus herb: Tribulus herb helps balance hormones.
Can PCOS come back after treatment?
If you're wondering, Can PCOS come back after treatment? Unfortunately yes, polycystic ovary syndrome can come back, as it is a chronic disease that is affected by lifestyle changes.
