PCOS Specialist

What is PCOS?

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which is a common condition. In PCOS, the ovaries develop many small cysts. These cysts themselves don’t harm the body, but they can make becoming pregnant difficult. If untreated, they also can create hormonal imbalances that can harm the body. The hormonal imbalances caused by untreated PCOS can ultimately cause diabetes and heart disease.

What Causes PCOS?

The precise cause of PCOS isn’t known, although researchers think genetics may play a role. Once the cysts begin to develop, the hormonal changes they cause can create a chain reaction that resonates throughout the whole body.

What Are Symptoms of PCOS?

PCOS is characterized by a variety of symptoms. Some of the more common ones include the following:

• Acne
• Weight gain
• Excess hair growth on the body and face, and thinning hair on the scalp
• Irregular periods and possibly no periods
• Difficulty becoming pregnant

How is PCOS Treated?

PCOS is frequently treated through a combination of lifestyle choices and hormone therapy. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking can all help. Along with these, a doctor may prescribe a hormone treatment therapy in order to bring the body’s hormones back into a proper balance.

In more advanced cases, medications may be used to both adjust hormonal levels and help maintain proper insulin levels (especially in pre-diabetic and diabetic patients). Some common medications that are used to treat PCOS and the changes it causes include:

• Birth control pills that have both progestin and estrogen
• Progestin on its own
• Spironolactone
• Metformin
• Clomiphene and gonadotropin injections

When behavioral modifications and medications don’t sufficiently treat PCOS, surgery may be required. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses lasers to treat affected ovaries and attempts to trigger ovulation.