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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME - OVERVIEW

By NETHRA VIJAYAKUMAR




Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also referred to as hyperandrogenic anovulation (HA), or Stein–Leventhal syndrome is a reproductive endocrine disorder that affects approximately 5-10% of reproductive age women. 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) happens when a woman's ovaries or adrenal glands produce more male hormones than normal. PCOS causes cysts (fluid-filled sacs) to grow on the ovaries. Symptoms include.
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Infertility
• Pelvic pain
• Excess hair growth on the face, chest, stomach or thighs
• Weight gain
• Acne or oily skin
• Patches of thickened skin

Women with PCOS are at higher risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

PCOS is more common in women who have obesity or have a mother or sister with PCOS. To diagnose PCOS, your health care provider may do a physical exam, pelvic exam, blood tests, and an ultrasound.
 
There is no cure, but diet, yoga and medicines can help control the symptoms.

Factors that cause PCOS in women:

 In fact, even experts in the medical field are not able to pinpoint the real factor that causes this problem. But they are certain that the presence of predominant levels of male hormones in women obstructs the production of female hormones by their ovaries. Therefore, their body does not make eggs as the ovaries of normal women do. In general, the factors that cause PCOS in women are insulin resistance, inflammation, and of course, genes. 


1. Genes

Several studies have been conducted to prove that the problem of PCOS has a genetic cause. The findings of these studies reveal that if grandparents or parents have this problem, the granddaughters are also likely to be affected by it. But it is not just a single gene that may cause PCOS. A number of genes work together for causing this condition.


2. Insulin resistance

Studies conducted on a number of women who have been affected by PCOS have shown concurrent problem of insulin resistance. Conversely put, chances of those with the problem of insulin resistance getting affected by PCOS are high. The reason is that the body cells of women affected by PCOS do not use insulin properly. If insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, does not help the body use the sugar in the foods they consume, their body will always be in need of insulin. Therefore, the pancreas will over-work and secrete more amount of insulin. Due to this extra insulin, ovaries are seen to produce more amounts of male hormones that dominates the body, thereby causing severe symptoms and finally resulting in PCOS. Obesity or overweight is yet another factor that may cause insulin resistance.


3. Inflammation

Inflammation in women has strong links with higher levels of androgen or male hormones. To put it differently, higher levels of male hormones will cause inflammation, and hence, women with PCOS are likely to suffer from inflammation as well. Obesity and excess body weight can cause inflammation also.

Treatment

The management of PCOS targets the symptomatology for which patients usually present, anovulation, infertility, hirsutism, or acne being the most common complaints. Treatment usually requires the corroboration of an interdisciplinary team that can include a family practitioner, a gynecologist, and endocrinologist, a dermatologist, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, and a psychologist.
Guidelines recommend yoga therapy and calorie-restricted diet as a crucial part of the management of obesity in women with PCOS. In fact, lifestyle modifications are considered as a cost-effective first line treatment and as a necessary adjunct to medication.

Diet

Foods to be included:

Women affected by PCOS should add liberal amounts of high-fibre foods in their diet. Especially, vegetables like broccoli and foods such as fish and those that contain lean proteins will bestow immense benefits. These high-fiber foods will help in overcoming the problem of insulin resistance also by retarding the digestion process and reducing the negative effects of sugar on their system.

Some of the high-fiber foods they can eat in abundant quantities are cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, greens that include spinach, lettuce, green and red peppers; beans, and lentils, berries, squash, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins. Lean protein items such as chicken, tofu, and fish may not provide affected women with good amounts of fibre, but women who eat these items can feel “full.” Hence, these foods can be great dietary options for women affected by PCOS.

They should also opt for anti-inflammatory spices and foods such as tomatoes, turmeric, etc. Food items that can supply a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids can also be beneficial for woman with PCOS.

Foods to be avoided:

Women affected with PCOS should avoid eating food items and spices that cause inflammation such as red meat, fried foods, processed foods, carbonated drinks, and sodas. They should also refrain from eating foods that contain large amounts of refined carbohydrates such as ice creams, cakes, pastries, white potatoes, sugary desserts and drinks, sugary snacks, muffins, white bread, and all items that are made of white flour. These foods will increase insulin resistance leading to problems mentioned above. Therefore, affected women should try to avoid or restrict eating these items to a considerable extent.

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