Here’s What You Need to Know About Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Expert at MEDCARE shines light on PCOS and how it affects women

Posted on

9 December 2018

| Last updated on 31 March 2019

The usual scenario is a female with irregular periods mostly delayed or missed periods.

They may also suffer from acne, oily skin and hair growth on the face and abdomen or hair loss from the head, probably with weight gain, thus it may have an effect on the appearance and self-esteem besides the fertility.

PCOS is not mainly a surgical case, and no masses or cysts are seen on ovaries, but the follicles (eggs) are accumulated in a chain pattern at the surface of the ovary, all are small in size, sometimes giving appearance of pearl-necklace or bee hive, and called polycystic ovary as shown in the image.

Causes and Treatment of PCOS

This case causes an imbalanced hormonal status in the body when ovulation stops (hatching of the eggs) so one hormone called progesterone will be missed reflected by missed or delayed periods, while other hormones will be produced excessively specially testosterone (male hormone) and that will cause acne and hair growth or loss in the male pattern.

In 50-80% of cases, it is associated with insulin resistance (tissues are not responding to insulin), which add the risk to develop Diabetes and Cardiac problems later on, that is why we advice for check up for diabetes yearly and check for Gestational Diabetes early during pregnancy in cases with PCOS.

PCOS has a family history (mother, aunts) and there is no cure, BUT symptoms may disappear if weight is controlled in the normal ranges (BMI: 19-25), following healthy diet, low carbohydrates and sugar, exercising 30 minutes three times a week, and dealing with other symptoms as the woman prefers, so if fertility is the concern, the doctor will advise for the recommended treatment, and for other concerns, each can be controlled separately.

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