Polycystic ovary syndrome: symptoms, medications, etc. • hello healthy

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Definition of PCOS

What is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

Polycystic ovary syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an excess androgen hormone in women and the development of insulin resistance.

PCOS is a condition that causes sufferers to have many small cysts on the ovaries or ovaries.

The ovaries or ovaries are one of the reproductive organs in a woman's body.

Every woman has two ovaries. The main function of the ovaries is to store and produce eggs.

The word "polycystic" itself means "many cysts". This term describes the condition of the cyst in the ovary.

Cysts are small lumps filled with fluid. Each lump contains eggs that are not fully cooked.

Problems with fertility, menstrual cycle, appearance, and even excess male hormone production are some of the conditions that PCOS sufferers may experience.

In more serious cases, PCOS is a disease that can cause problems with body weight and heart function.

Then, this condition is generally related to excessive levels of the hormone insulin in the body.

Therefore, PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a disease that is often associated with diabetes risk.

Meanwhile, PCOS is a disease that still cannot be completely cured.

This means that a treatment that can completely cure this disease is not yet available.

How common is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

PCOS is a relatively common condition, especially when women have trouble getting pregnant.

However, it is possible that PCOS can attack women with normal fertility.

About 5% to 10% of women aged 15-44 are diagnosed with this disease.

Generally, the ages of 20-30 years are the time when people with PCOS just find out they have this syndrome.

Usually, this is known when you want to do a pregnancy program and have pregnancy problems.

However, this syndrome can occur at any age after puberty.

PCOS is a common condition and affects between 1 in 10-20 women of childbearing age.

This condition can be overcome by controlling the existing risk factors. You can consult a doctor for more information.

PCOS characteristics & symptoms

What are the features and symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

The onset of puberty is the time when most PCOS features or symptoms begin to develop.

Especially when someone is having menstruation for the first time or menarche.

The most common age at which PCOS symptoms first appear is the late adolescence or early 20s.

However, PCOS may develop at a later time. For example, when someone has gained quite a drastic weight.

The characteristics and symptoms of this disease are quite varied. Some of the common symptoms of PCOS are:

1. Irregular menstrual cycle

The most common symptom experienced by people with PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is an irregular menstrual cycle.

Menstruation can be very rare, too long, or even not occur at all for several years (amenorrhoea).

This condition is related to decreased ovulation activity in the reproductive system, so that the uterine wall cannot shed.

A number of women with cases of this syndrome experience menstruation less than 8 times a year.

2. Heavy bleeding

On the other hand, heavy bleeding is another symptom of PCOS that you should watch out for.

This is because the uterine wall takes longer to accumulate and shed.

So when PCOS sufferers have menstruation, more blood will be released than women in general.

3. Excess hair growth

Another symptom is having excess hair on the face and body. In fact, more than 70% of people who suffer from PCOS will experience the condition.

In some cases, sufferers have thicker and darker facial hair.

In addition, excess hair can also be found on the chest, abdomen and back. This condition is known as hirsutism.

4. Pimples appear

The next characteristic of PCOS is the excessive production of androgens or male hormones.

The reason is, this condition can cause the skin to become oilier than usual.

This condition causes you to break out in the face, chest, and upper back.

5. Change mood

In people with PCOS, the body produces irregular hormone levels, resulting in mood or mood mood sufferers can change continuously.

This condition has the potential to cause stress, even depression. This is one of the signs or features of polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS.

6. Weight gain drastically

As many as 80% of women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome experience significant weight gain.

In addition, sufferers also generally have difficulty losing weight.

7. Appears baldness

Did you know that baldness is a characteristic or symptom of PCOS?

Yes, with age, sufferers may experience baldness or what is also called male-pattern baldness .

Symptoms of PCOS are a condition caused by excess production of male hormones in the patient's body.

8. Dark skin color

Another symptom of PCOS that you may want to pay more attention to is a darker skin tone.

The skin will have patches or a darker color in the folds, such as the neck, groin, and under the breasts.

9. Headache

Headache is another feature of PCOS. Hormonal changes that are too extreme can cause headaches in some women.

10. Fertility disorders

If the body is not ovulating properly, there can be problems or fertility problems.

This condition causes the body not to produce enough eggs to be fertilized.

If the sufferer has difficulty trying to have children, this could be one of the symptoms or characteristics of a woman with PCOS.

11. Difficulty sleeping (sleep apnea)

PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome, especially in obese people, is a condition that can disrupt the sleep cycle due to irregular breathing, even stopping.

This condition is called sleep apnea . The risk for people with polycystic ovary syndrome to experience this is 5 to 10 times higher than normal people.

When to see a doctor?

If you have the above characteristics or symptoms, the thing that should be done is to have the condition checked by a doctor.

You should see a doctor immediately if you experience the following PCOS symptoms:

• No menstruation and you are not pregnant.
• There are PCOS symptoms such as excessive hair growth.
• Trying to get pregnant for more than 12 months, but you always fail.
• Have diabetes symptoms, such as feeling thirsty and excessively hungry, sudden weight gain, or blurry vision.

The characteristics or symptoms of polycystic ovaroum syndrome that the body shows are quite varied.

To get the most appropriate treatment and according to your health condition, always make sure to see a doctor.

Causes of PCOS

What causes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

Until now, the exact cause of PCOS is still unknown. However, experts believe that there are several conditions that trigger this syndrome.

1. Hormonal imbalance in the body

Generally, women who experience PCOS syndrome are those who have an imbalance in hormone levels in their bodies.

Until now, it is not certain why hormonal changes are one of the causes of PCOS.

Androgen hormones

This hormone is often called the male hormone. However, this hormone is not only found in the male body.

This hormone controls the physical characteristics that men tend to have, such as excess hair growth and male-pattern baldness .

People with polycystic ovary syndrome have levels of androgens that exceed normal limits.

However, androgen hormones are hormones that are produced by women in small amounts. So, this is not the main cause for your PCOS condition.

Even so, changes in androgen hormones in a woman's body are what cause the ovulation process in the reproductive system to be disturbed.

Such as decreased production of eggs by the ovaries and disruption of the menstrual cycle.

The hormone testosterone

One of the male hormones produced by other women is testosterone.

The reason is, the increase in the hormone testosterone found in women is one of the conditions that has the potential to cause PCOS.

Luteinising hormone (LH)

In addition, there are Luteinising hormone (LH), which is a hormone that stimulates ovulation.

The change in the amount of this hormone is one of the causes of PCOS.

This is because when these hormone levels exceed normal limits, it can interfere with the function of the ovaries in producing eggs.

Sex hormone-binding globulin

Sex hormone-binding globulin or SHBG is a protein that also has the potential to cause PCOS.

SHBG is a protein in the blood that is bound to testosterone and can reduce the effects of this hormone.

The hormone prolactin

In addition, the hormone prolactin, which stimulates the breast glands to produce breast milk (ASI) during pregnancy.

However, this hormone can also trigger PCOS if the amount is excessive.

2. High levels of insulin in the body

Insulin is a hormone that regulates how your body converts glucose in the blood into energy.

When the insulin hormone increases in the blood, the body will experience insulin resistance. This condition is one of the causes of PCOS.

Insulin resistance is a condition that occurs when cells in the muscles, fat, and liver do not respond well to insulin.

At that time, the pancreas will continue to produce even more insulin and over time, your blood sugar levels will continue to rise.

Insulin resistance can occur in people who have several health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and type 2 diabetes.

A study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility also states that PCOS is a disease experienced by 70% of women due to insulin resistance.

This means that the cells in the body cannot process insulin properly.

3. Descendants of the family

In fact, genetic factors are one of the conditions most likely to cause PCOS or polyclistic ovary syndrome.

This means that if your mother, sister, or sister has PCOS, your chances of developing it are much higher.

However, there is no single gene that causes PCOS, so it is likely that this condition is caused by a combination of different types of genes.

4. Inflammation or low-level inflammation

In fact, this condition is closely related to insulin resistance, as mentioned earlier.

The reason is, the inflammation that occurs in your body is one of the triggers of an increase in androgen hormones which can also trigger PCOS.

5. Increase in weight

Obesity or being overweight is another cause of PCOS. When the body has a body weight that exceeds the ideal limit, insulin resistance will get worse.

Actually, women who suffer from PCOS may also experience insulin resistance, but the symptoms do not arise due to ideal body weight.

Meanwhile, increasing body weight actually triggers insulin resistance to show various symptoms.

Such as irregular menstrual cycles or excessive hair growth.

PCOS complications

What are the complications of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

PCOS is a condition that can cause several health problems if not treated promptly, or if suffered for a long period of time.

Starting from diabetes, heart problems, to cancer, here are the complications that may occur:

1. Metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a collection of various health conditions that occur simultaneously.

These conditions include an increase in cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and an increase in blood pressure.

As many as 80% of women with this condition are obese. This condition, obesity and PCOS can increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

It is estimated that more than half of women with this disease have the potential to develop type 2 diabetes or prediabetes (glucose intolerance) before turning 40 years of age.

In addition, sufferers often have high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and low levels of good cholesterol (HDL).

This condition can lead to health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

2. Complications in pregnancy

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that can affect the menstrual cycle, making it harder for sufferers to get pregnant.

Infertility is a problem that affects about 70 to 80 percent of women with polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS.

Then, polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that can also lead to complications in pregnancy.

Other risks that may be experienced by pregnant women while experiencing PCOS are:

• Babies may be born prematurely
• Miscarriage
• Gestational diabetes.

3. Severe stress

Another complication that may occur when you have PCOS is excessive stress.

Hormonal changes and symptoms such as excess hair growth can adversely affect the sufferer's emotions.

Many patients who experience polycystic ovary syndrome end up with severe depression and anxiety.

4. Endometrial cancer

Another disease that may occur if you have PCOS is endometrial cancer.

This is because the ovaries are not ovulating properly, so the uterine wall continues to thicken and does not shed.

PCOS and Pregnancy

Can PCOS sufferers recover and get pregnant?

To date, there is no treatment that can directly cure polycystic ovary syndrome.

However, there are several ways to minimize symptoms and causes so that you can also treat PCOS to get pregnant quickly.

Women with PCOS conditions can get pregnant, so you still have hope of having children.

It's just that, the chances of a PCOS sufferer getting pregnant naturally are small. If the symptoms can be controlled with medication, you may become pregnant naturally.

However, if the symptoms are too severe, then you may need to treat infertility.

How long can a woman with PCOS be pregnant?

As already explained, there are several factors that affect women with PCOS conditions that can still get pregnant.

For example, such as changing your lifestyle, losing weight, and so on.

If a woman is under 35 years of age and is still ovulating regularly, there is a chance of experiencing pregnancy within one year.

However, if you or your partner have certain fertility disorders, it will take more than one year.

PCOS Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is PCOS diagnosed?

There is no specific test to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome.

Generally, polycystic ovary syndrome is detected when a patient comes to the doctor to check for other diseases.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, family history of illness, or if you've had treatment for other health conditions.

To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will ask you to undergo several additional tests:

1. Blood test

This test is done to measure the levels of hormones in the body, especially androgen hormones.

In addition, cholesterol, insulin, and triglyceride levels may also be measured to check the possibility of developing diabetes or heart disease.

2. Pelvic examination

The doctor will examine your reproductive organs for any abnormal growths in your body, especially the ovaries.

3. Imaging tests

Imaging tests or imaging tests are done to examine your ovaries in more depth.

Some of the types of tests performed are transvaginal ultrasound and CT scan.

How to treat PCOS?

The goals of PCOS treatment are to control symptoms and prevent the growth of more severe cysts inside the ovaries.

Depending on the symptoms, the treatment can vary, such as:

1. Improve the menstrual cycle

To regulate your menstrual cycle, your doctor may recommend the following treatments:

• Family planning pills

Birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin can reduce androgen production and regulate estrogen in the body.

Hormone control can reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, have acne, and experience excess hair growth.

• Progestin therapy

Progestin therapy for 10-14 days to 2 months can regulate the menstrual cycle and protect you from the risk of endometrial cancer.

This drug is suitable for those of you who want to undergo a pregnancy program.

2. Giving drugs to help the ovulation process

To help the body ovulate normally, the doctor will give drugs such as:

• Clomiphene (Clomid)
• Letrozole (Femara)
• Metformin (Glucophage, Fortamet)
• Gonadotropins

Metmorphine as a diabetes drug can also be prescribed for PCOS drugs.

This drug specifically works to reduce insulin resistance and fertility problems due to PCOS.

3. Reduces excess hair growth

The doctor will give birth control pills to prevent the hair that grows on the body from appearing excessively.

In addition, there are several types of drugs as alternatives:

• Spironolactone (Aldactone)
• Eflornithine (Vaniqa)
• Electrolysis

4. Ovarian surgery

Surgery called ovarian drilling may also be done to make the ovaries work better.

The doctor will make a small cut in the abdomen using a laparoscopy with a needle to puncture the ovary and destroy a small portion of the tissue.

This procedure changes hormone levels which in turn make it easier for you to ovulate.

Home remedies for PCOS

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be made?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome:

• Maintain body weight with regular exercise to improve reproductive health.
• Eat a diet low in refined carbohydrates.
• Exercise can also help the body regulate insulin.
• If you smoke, consider quitting.

Food and Diet for PCOS Sufferers to Get Pregnant Fast

Until now, an effective treatment method for this condition has not been found.

However, it can be controlled by making dietary changes and knowing dietary restrictions, such as:

1. Reduce carbohydrate intake

Obesity is a common symptom in women who have PCOS. Reducing carbohydrate intake is the best way to treat these symptoms.

In addition, intake of protein and healthy fats can lower blood sugar levels, so that blood insulin levels remain stable.

2. Consume foods with a low glycemic index

Low glycemic index foods are those that don't raise blood sugar levels quickly.

It can also trigger insulin resistance.

The main food sources with a low glycemic index include vegetables and fruit, whole grains, protein and healthy fats.

3. Avoid refined carbohydrates and high sugar

Refined carbohydrates in general can trigger an inflammatory process that leads to insulin resistance.

You need to stop or reduce the amount of intake in large quantities, to control the symptoms of PCOS.

Refined carbohydrates that should be reduced are rice, pasta, and noodles which are made from flour.

However, consumption of pasta made from whole grains is the right alternative.

In addition, the intake of liquid sugar such as sucrose, corn fructose syrup, and dextrose in various packaged drinks should also be reduced.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.