Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Treatment | Gynecologists in Brooklyn

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

A disruptive medical condition, polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS can give you a variety of symptoms, some of which are merely annoying, like PCOS hair loss, and others that affect your overall health and well-being, such as enlarged ovaries. While the best treatment may be weight loss, your gynecologist at Century Medical and Dental Center has medications and techniques to relieve your symptoms much faster and more efficiently than losing weight. Call today for an appointment.

A hormonal disorder, polycystic ovarian syndrome, known as PCOS, most commonly affects women of reproductive age. If you’re suffering with PCOS, you may have infrequent or prolonged periods. You may also show evidence of higher than normal levels of the male hormone androgen, which can lead to male-associated symptoms.

When your reproductive hormones aren’t balanced correctly, many different symptoms can occur. Your body may react poorly to insulin. Progesterone seems to fall to low levels for those with PCOS. Early detection and treatment stop most symptoms.

Symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

The symptoms of PCOS may develop as early as your first period. You may not see any symptoms until much later, possibly in response to sudden weight gain. Although symptoms vary, experiencing at least two of them indicates a PCOS concern. Polycystic ovarian syndrome symptoms include:

• Elevated levels of androgen
• Extra facial and body hair called hirsutism
• Oily skin or severe acne
• Sleeping difficulties and extreme fatigue
• Headaches
• Cysts on your ovaries often found through pelvic exam or ultrasound
• Male pattern baldness or PCOS hair loss
• Irregular periods, such as fewer than nine a year, longer than 35 days between periods, and unusually heavy flow when your periods commence
• Enlarged ovaries, containing large numbers of follicles surrounding your eggs that prevent proper function of the ovaries
• An increase in these symptoms if you gain weight
• Problems losing extra weight
• Fertility concerns

What Causes PCOS?

The exact cause of polycystic ovarian syndrome is unknown, but may involve possible risk factors, such as:

• Low-grade inflammation that stimulates your ovaries to produce extra androgen
• Excess insulin that increases androgen and causes difficulty with ovulation
• A family history of PCOS
• Elevated levels of androgen from other, unknown causes

Many conditions appear to aggravate PCOS. Early intervention may reduce the risk of subsequent type 2 diabetes and heart disease since there appears to be a link between polycystic ovarian syndrome and diabetes, often due to the resulting weight gain. Since it’s difficult to identify, many women wait several years before being given a definitive diagnosis of PCOS.

The Complicated Symptoms of PCOS

Besides the appearance of acne, extra facial hair and PCOS hair loss, other complications may arise from PCOS, including:

• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Infertility
• Premature birth or miscarriage
• Enlarged ovaries
• Cancer of the uterus
• Gestational diabetes
• Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
• Sleep apnea
• Type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• A liver inflammation not associated with alcohol, called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
• Eating disorders
• Depression and anxiety

Diagnosing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Obesity seems to be a characteristic that worsens the symptoms of PCOS. While no definitive test exists for the condition, your doctor takes all your symptoms into account when narrowing down a possible diagnosis. Your Brooklyn gynecologist at Century Medical and Dental Center determines if PCOS fits your symptoms through:

• A physical exam noting hair growth and acne
• A pelvic exam to rule out fibroids, polyps or other abnormalities
• Blood tests to check for insulin resistance
• Other lab tests to measure several hormone levels
• An ultrasound to observe your uterus and ovaries

Treating Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Your treatment depends on your symptoms. Some lifestyle changes can mediate the severity of your symptoms, while others work to right your hormone imbalance. For example, a modest five percent decrease in weight not only reduces your symptoms’ severity, it increases the effectiveness of any medications your doctor prescribes. Other possible treatments include:

• Acne medicines, either topical or oral
• Electrolysis for excessive facial and body hair
• Rogaine and equivalents for PCOS hair loss
• A nutritionist’s recommendations for a polycystic ovarian syndrome healthy diet
• Managing your diabetes with medication and weight loss
• Screening for hypertension, glucose tolerance and any cholesterol concerns
• Depression and anxiety questionnaires with possible follow-ups
• Checking for obstructive sleep apnea and controlling with CPAP machines
• Staying active and limiting carbohydrates, such as starchy or sugary foods
• Ovarian drilling, a surgery that helps your ovaries work better if medications prove ineffective

Your gynecologist can use birth control pills or progestin therapy to regulate your menstrual cycle or specific medications to help you ovulate correctly, especially if you want to get pregnant with PCOS. You can reduce hair growth with other medicine or certain birth control pills, as well. But these medications prove most effective when you maintain a healthy weight.

Complicated Approaches

You and your doctor may have to explore several different treatments or methods before you find the best combination for your symptoms. Since your gynecologist is part of a multi-disciplinary team at Century Medical and Dental Center, you have access to other important services to help, such as exercise and weight loss guidance form a physical therapist.

Some birth control methods lower your risk of endometrial cancer, making them more attractive. But you help yourself the most by maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits, as this lifestyle gives your body the fuel necessary to properly regulate hormones. Find out how you can overcome your PCOS symptoms at a consultation and examination. Contact our Brooklyn general physicians at Century Medical and Dental Center today!