The symptoms of PCOS including irregular periods, excessive hair growth, weight gain, obesity, acne and infertility are physically and emotionally disruptive. If you are the 5 to 10% of women who suffer horribly from the symptoms of PCOS there are treatment options available.
Your hormones, mainly estrogen and testosterone are completely lopsided and irregular causing the annoying symptoms associated with PCOS.
Being aware you have PCOS also alerts you to future health problems associated with this condition such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer of the uterus.
How is PCOS treated?
There is no cure for PCOS but treatment depends on the symptoms you are experiencing. Treating each symptom separately will depend on how disruptive and annoying each one is in your life and daily routine.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is known to cause irregular and troublesome periods. Hormones, including the birth control pill or progesterone, are typically used to regulate and balance out your periods. Long-acting reversible contraceptives also known as LARCS’s, include Depo-Provera, Norplant arm implants and intrauterine devices (IUD’s), are frequently used to control erratic bleeding.
Spironolactone is a medication used to help control excessive hair growth. The birth control pill is also helpful to treat unwanted hair. Alternatively, electrolysis and laser hair removal are ways to permanently get rid of the extra hair.
Since those with PCOS do not ovulate regularly getting pregnant can be tricky. There are a number of medications that can take you to ovulate more regularly. Clomid is the most common medication to get your ovaries ready to cooperate with ovulation and pregnancy. Clomid is given to help you ovulate regularly making the egg available to become fertilized. If Clomid fails, Metformin and gonadotrophins are next on deck to get your ovaries working properly.
Many women with PCOS have a challenging time losing weight and tend to be overweight or obese. For a teen this is not only frustrating but isolating and depressing. Seeing a nutritionist is often the best approach to making successful food choices and achieving weight loss. Eating foods that are plant based, nutrient-rich, fresh and unprocessed along with healthy fats is an ideal diet focusing on a lifelong diet strategy. Controlling your weight helps control irregular periods, excess hair growth and acne.
A skin doctor or dermatologist may be the best way to avoid severe acne. Anti-androgens (decreasing testosterone), such as spironolactone, can help reduce hair growth and acne. Anti-androgens, antibiotics and special medicated skin washes are also used to keep the acne under control.
PCOS and Infertility
Yes! The bad news is that PCOS can have a negative impact upon fertility, often by impacting or preventing ovulation, and by increasing the risks for general health issues like weight, insulin resistance, blood pressure etc. The good news is that the fertility issues are very treatable with high success rates. Most women with PCOS may only need oral medications like Letrozole to conceive. A healthy lifestyle significantly improves the chances for success with or without fertility treatment.
PCOS and Pregnancy
Since those with PCOS do not ovulate regularly getting pregnant can be tricky. There are a number of medications that can take you to ovulate more regularly. Clomid is the most common medication to get your ovaries ready to cooperate with ovulation and pregnancy. Clomid is given to help you ovulate regularly making the egg available to become fertilized. If Clomid fails, Metformin and gonadotrophins are next on deck to get your ovaries working properly.