Pcos Treatment & Weight Loss

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, PCOS, is a condition that affects approximately 5 million American women and some pre-pubescent girls. According to the National Women's Health Information Center, it is characterized by the over-production of hormones called androgens which are typically found in men. A woman with PCOS will suffer from irregular periods and small, fluid filled cysts that crowd the ovaries. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can cause infertility, obesity and mood swings due to hormone balance.

Causes

According to the article "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" by J. Torpy, the true cause of PCOS is not entirely understood but it is classified as an inherited condition. The condition is most likely present when you are born but does not manifest until puberty. Hormone imbalance related to the overproduction of male hormones is implicated as a root cause which disrupts the normal production of other hormones.

Symptoms

Women who suffer from PCOS have distinct characteristics. Acne, lack of or infrequent menstrual cycles, central obesity, abundant body hair and thinning head hair are some of the visible hallmarks of the condition. In addition, the small fluid filled cysts that over-populate the ovaries often cause Infertility in many women. All of these symptoms are related to the male hormones that displace the normal production of feminine hormones and all are screened during diagnosis.

Metabolic Implications

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is often considered the feminine version of metabolic syndrome because it shares many of the same components with that condition. People with PCOS and metabolic syndrome both suffer from high triglycerides, low HDL, obesity, high blood pressure, over production of androgen and insulin resistance. Having a high triglyceride count and high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease, while being insulin resistant causes excessive weight gain in the middle of your body and can lead to type 2 diabetes if left unchecked.

Weight-loss

Women battling PCOS also battle their weight because of the central obesity their hormone imbalance causes. Struggling to lose weight despite a metabolic condition is difficult, and women are encouraged to exercise and manage their diet as a starting point. Exercise is an important factor in managing PCOS not only because it encourages weight loss but because it reduces the risk of heart disease by improving the ratio of HDL to LDL. Exercise also lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of developing diabetes for insulin resistant women.

Medications

Since PCOS is a metabolic condition, prescribed drugs are often a part of the treatment plan for women who are unresponsive to regular exercise and diet. Oral contraceptives which decrease the production of the male hormones and regulate menstrual cycles is usually the first course of action. The drug Metformin is usually prescribed because it improves insulin resistance and prevents type 2 diabetes which can trigger weight loss.