Approximately 3-5% of women report symptoms of polycystic ovaries, but not all of them immediately turn to gynecologists. The reason is simple: the signs of the disease seem unrelated. The correct diagnosis is often made during preventive examinations, if the doctor has doubts and he prescribes an additional examination. Every woman should know how polycystic disease manifests itself in order to start treatment on time. If this is not done, the consequences can be the most unpleasant, up to oncology.
- Causes and typical symptoms of polycystic ovaries
- Peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovaries
- About the symptoms and treatment of polycystic ovaries
Causes and typical symptoms of polycystic ovaries
Polycystic — this disease, which manifests itself in the form of numerous cysts in the ovaries. Formations can be both outside the organs and inside. The cysts are small, but there are many of them, so sometimes they merge into the likeness of grapes. Because of these formations, the process of ovulation is disrupted: the eggs do not mature and do not come out of the follicles. Hence menstrual irregularities, infertility and many other problems.
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The disease appears as a result of hormonal imbalance, which may be hereditary in nature or appear due to malfunctions in the endocrine glands. As a rule, the exact cause cannot be determined, because hormonal imbalances can occur due to stress, decreased cell sensitivity to insulin, unfavorable environmental conditions, chronic diseases, and other negative factors.
Common symptoms of PCOS:
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Enlarged ovaries. This can be determined by using an ultrasound if the doctor suspects a disease and prescribes an additional examination for the woman. The ovaries increase significantly in size — 2-6 times (depending on the peculiarities of the course of the disease).
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Irregular menstruation. The menstrual cycle is disrupted, and discharge can be either scanty or heavy (up to bleeding). Sometimes menstruation stops altogether. If these symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a gynecologist.
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Inability to get pregnant. Due to rare ovulation, pregnancy does not occur. According to doctors, it is polycystic ovaries that most often causes female infertility.
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Weight gain, pre-diabetes condition. Unreasonable weight gain should alert. Nearly half of women with PCOS are overweight. Weight increases due to the low susceptibility of cells to insulin, which leads to problems with utilization of glucose.
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Alopecia, acne, hyperpigmentation of the skin. These problems appear due to an increase in the amount of male hormones.
Symptoms can appear both together and individually. There are cases when a woman does not show any obvious signs of the disease or they are episodic. A woman needs to carefully monitor the state of the body and at the first alarming calls, contact doctor. The sooner the treatment of polycystic ovaries, the lower the risks of complications.
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Peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovaries
Polycystic suspicion should be raised if the woman is unable to conceive or if her menstrual cycle is disrupted. This is an occasion to contact a gynecologist as soon as possible. The task of the doctor — exclude other diseases with similar symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis. The gynecologist should examine the patient and ask a few questions to help complete the medical history.
Read also: How to conceive a child with irregular periods
The doctor will definitely prescribe an ultrasound of the ovaries. Most often, ultrasound shows cysts, and the ovaries themselves are enlarged. To determine the cause of the disease, you will need to take a blood test for hormones. The gynecologist may also order a biopsy.
The treatment of polycystic ovaries should be comprehensive:
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Weight correction. Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet. It is necessary to limit the amount of fats and carbohydrates coming from food. Salty, spicy, smoked foods are also harmful. Additional Measures — exercise, walking, cardio training.
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Drug treatment. Usually, the process of ovulation normalizes after weight loss, but if there is an increased amount of male hormones, gynecologists prescribe contraceptives. These preparations contain estrogens and progesterones, which help restore hormonal balance.
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Synthetic antiandrogens. They are prescribed if a woman has cosmetic deficiencies associated with increased production of male sex hormones by the body.
Women planning pregnancy should not be afraid to take oral contraceptives. It is safe. After the end of the course of treatment, ovulation is restored, and the chances of getting pregnant increase significantly.
Usually conservative methods give good results in the treatment of polycystic ovaries, but sometimes they are ineffective. In such cases, surgical intervention is indicated. Most often, laparoscopy is used. After such an operation, there are no noticeable traces left, and the patient herself quickly returns to normal life.
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About the symptoms and treatment of polycystic ovaries
Remember that:
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Polycystic ovaries — dangerous disease with unpredictable consequences. Hormonal imbalance — it's a blow to the whole body.
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In its symptoms, polycystic disease is similar to other endocrine diseases. Top Causes of Concern — irregular periods and infertility.
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Treatment should be comprehensive. It includes changes in diet, physical activity, medication.
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It is important to diagnose and treat polycystic ovaries in time to prevent complications. The consequences of the disease can be the most severe: the risk of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks, strokes, hypertension) increases, mastopathy may develop. These problems can be prevented if you consult a gynecologist in a timely manner.
Read also: When when you need to contact gynecologist: list of symptoms
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