Body Care Facts & Health Tips

Ovarian cysts are a common problem for women, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is the most discussed variety of this condition. PCOS happens when the ovaries produce more androgen than what is considered as a normal level for women. The increased presence of androgens leads to the growth of hair and can also cause acne. This is a common problem for pre-menopausal women an can sometimes take severe proportions.

PCOS occurs in 5-10% of women worldwide, yet there is no single cause of this problem, which has been identified yet. In fact, it is actually a combination of genetic and environmental factors which cause PCOS. The most commonly noted ones are:

• Genetics, because often it is seen that if the mother has polycystic ovarian syndrome, the daughter has it too. Researchers are still trying to pinpoint the link between genes and PCOS.
• Problems in the blood sugar control system or insulin imbalance. A high percentage of women who have insulin resistance and abnormal levels of insulin in blood, tend to develop PCOS syndrome.

Other factors such as presence of multiple cysts in the ovaries, fetal exposure to male hormones and imbalance in the levels of the hormone LH are also cited as possible reasons for this condition.

So, what are the symptoms which tell you whether you are suffering from PCOS?

Well, this polycystic ovarian problem manifests itself in different ways, some of the most common among which are:

• Excessive hair growth, which is a direct result of the increased secretion of androgen (the male sex hormone). Hair grows in area such as the face, chest, toes etc. At the same time, the opposite effect or hair loss, can also occur in some cases.
• Infertility is a common symptom, which you may not relate to PCOS initially, but later find out.
• Irregular or absent periods can also indicate that you are suffering from PCOS.
• Then there is the outbreak of acne, which is usually something which affects teens. So if you are in your thirties and have a bout of acne, you may suspect PCOS.

Effective PCOS treatment can help you recover well from this problem. The basic objective of most treatments is not only getting rid of polycystic ovaries, but also making sure that the cysts do not become malignant (cancerous). Birth control pills or progesterone hormone injections can help regularize periods and thus reduce the risk of uterine cancer.

For treating acne or excess hair growth, diuretics are used. If the hair growth is really strong, hair-removal creams or processes such as electrolysis can be employed too. To help prevent infertility, medicines are provided to induce ovulation.

A PCOS diet can also help you deal successfully with the condition. This is because losing weight is really effective for neutralizing several threats and complications associated with PCOS. Low glycemic-index foods and vitamin and mineral supplements feature prominently in these diets.

So, if you are diagnosed with PCOS, do not panic and remember what you have just read through.