PCOS Tips For Conceiving
Pcos
PCOS is estimated to affect between 5% and 10% of women of reproductive age, thus making it the most common hormonal disorder among women in this age group. As you know, PCOS is a very common, but complicated, medical problem that has been associated with increased hair growth, diabetes, high blood pressure, menstrual problems and infertility. Although PCOS presents early in life, it persists through and beyond the reproductive years. The following characteristics are very often associated with PCOS, but not all are seen in every woman: Hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, etc.
In addition, women with PCOS appear to be at increased risk of developing the following health problems during their lives: Insulin resistance Diabetes. Because there is such variability in how PCOS presents itself, there is not universal agreement among health professionals on how to best define PCOS.
What is clear, however, is that women with the disorder do not ovulate in a predictable manner and that women with PCOS also produce excessive quantities of androgens (particularly testosterone). It is important to note that polycystic ovaries are not present in all women diagnosed with PCOS. Obesity, which itself can cause insulin levels to rise, may intensify PCOS. Yet, not all women who are overweight develop PCOS.
Thus, there appears to be something unique about PCOS both in the excessively high insulin production and the increased sensitivity of the ovaries to the insulin that is produced. There is no single, quick test to identify PCOS. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that there is likely to be a hereditary basis for PCOS and its associated metabolic abnormalities such as diabetes. At the University of Chicago Hospitals, we have found that 1 in 3 women with PCOS will have an abnormal glucose tolerance test and that 1 in 10 will be diabetic by age 40.
It is important to note that women with PCOS who have a family history of diabetes appear to be at highest risk for abnormalities in glucose tolerance. Thus, we are actively engaged in trying to understand whether the tendency for PCOS and glucose intolerance has a familial, genetic basis. To date, over 160 families of women with PCOS have participated in testing in our Clinical Research Center. There are different approaches to treating PCOS. Because they cause women to menstruate regularly (and, thus, shed the endometrial lining), oral contraceptives as treatment for PCOS help to reduce a woman’s risk of endometrial cancer. Through the experts in reproductive endocrinology, the Center for PCOS offers a full spectrum of standard and innovative fertility therapies: from oral and injectible medications that stimulate ovulation, to advanced methods of in vitro fertilization including use of donor eggs.
Rather than focusing on relieving specific symptoms, the newer treatments aim at what may be the root cause of PCOS, i. Many therapies target specific symptoms of PCOS, but may not address the underlying cause. New evidence suggests that using medications which lower insulin levels in the blood may be effective in restoring menstruation and reducing some of the health risks associated with PCOS. It is approved by the FDA as a treatment for diabetes, but is not yet FDA-approved for use in treating PCOS. Many women with PCOS follow a low-carbohydrate diet designed to lose or maintain their weight.
However, weight loss achieved through dietary changes and exercise can help women with PCOS in several ways. Like men and women without PCOS, losing weight reduces a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease and non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes. The University of Chicago Center for PCOS is one of the few medical centers in the U. If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, it’s important to understand the long-term health risks associated with the disease.
Not all women with PCOS will develop all of these conditions, but having PCOS does increase your risk. It is important to have your health monitored regularly by a physician who has experience treating women with PCOS. Regularly scheduled physician visits should continue after menopause, even though you will no longer have erratic periods and other PCOS symptoms may lessen. Many women don’t realize they have PCOS until they see a doctor to determine why they cannot get pregnant. Infertility or subfertility is a common problem for women with PCOS.
Thanks to the availability of ovulation-inducing drugs and advances in assisted reproductive technologies, many women with PCOS can be helped to conceive. Do keep in mind though, although PCOS may reduce a woman’s chances to become pregnant, the disease is not a substitute for birth control. Many women with PCOS do become pregnant, without medical assistance. Women with PCOS also experience the monthly buildup of the endometrial lining. Insulin resistance or impaired glucose tolerance has been linked to PCOS. Furthermore, high levels of insulin stimulate the production of testosterone, which aggravates the PCOS.
By age 40, up to 40% of women with PCOS have some level of abnormal glucose tolerance, in the form of either diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. Ehrmann and other physicians at the University of Chicago Center for PCOS conduct ongoing research on the role of insulin resistance and insulin action in women with PCOS. This means that a woman with PCOS may have an unfavorably high level of fat substances in her bloodstream. In addition, the tendency for women with PCOS to be overweight increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, just as obesity increases cardiovascular risk among women and men who do not have PCOS.
Tags: Androgens, Common Hormonal Disorder, Excessive Hair Growth, Excessive Quantities, Glucose Tolerance Test, Hereditary Basis, High Blood Pressure, High Insulin, History Of Diabetes, Insulin Levels, Insulin Production, Insulin Resistance, Medical Problem, Menstrual Problems, Metabolic Abnormalities, Polycystic Ovaries, Predictable Manner, Quick Test, Universal Agreement, University Of Chicago Hospitals