polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos)
TRANSCRIPT
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
“There is no specific test to diagnose PCOS”
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder seen in women of
reproductive age. The ovaries get enlarged due to numerous small cysts erupting along
their outer edge, making them polycystic in appearance.
The effects of PCOS are:
Infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods
Excess body hair growth
Acne
Obesity
In adolescents, the disorder represents the following symptoms:
Infrequent or absent menstruation
Hair loss
Unexplained weight gain
In women past adolescence, the symptoms could be:
Difficulty in conception
Unexplained weight gain
Other signs and symptoms of PCOS include:
Oily skin
Elevated insulin levels
Skin discolouration
High levels of cholesterol
Increased blood pressure
Tests And Diagnosis
The diagnosis of PCOS is generally made on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms. There is no specific test as such to diagnose PCOS. The diagnosis is also based on exclusion, which means the physician considers all the signs and symptoms and then rules out other possible disorders.
During this process, the doctor could also take into account other factors such as:
o Medical history of the patient
o Physical examination
o Pelvic examination
o Blood tests
o Pelvic ultrasound
Treatments And Drugs
The treatment of PCOS depends partially on the woman’s age and stage in life. For
younger women who desire birth control, the birth control pills, especially with low
androgenic side effects, could cause regular periods and prevent the risk of uterine
cancer.
The other option could be intermittent therapy with the treatment of progesterone.
Polycystic ovary syndrome treatment generally focuses on management of individual
concerns of the women such as infertility, hirsutism, acne or obesity.
Surgery
If medications do not work, an outpatient surgery called laparoscopic ovarian drilling
could be suggested by the doctor to induce ovulation, which can be performed at Apollo
Cradle, under expert supervision.
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