Polycystic ovaries

Polycystic ovaries is a very common hormone disorder in women, a principal cause of infertility and one of the most difficult to be diagnosed disorders. Polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by bilaterally enlarged ovaries and an abundance of seemingly unrelated symptoms which may include irregular menstrual cycle, scarcity or absence of period, lack of ovulation, weight gain, acne, excessive facial hair (hirsutism) and, ultimately, infertility. Women with polycystic ovaries face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes or even endometrial cancer, especially if the disease is not treated.

However, most of the women do not know they have polycystic ovaries. Surprisingly, less than 25% of the women have been diagnosed. Most of them discover they have polycystic ovaries when they are already faced with infertility and seek help to get pregnant. If there is a possibility of polycystic ovaries, an accurate diagnosis must be established by evaluating the symptoms, the medical history of the patient, the assessment of the hormone levels in the blood, mainly, the luteinizing hormone (LH), the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), Δ4-androstenedione, SHBG and insulin. An ultrasound scan then follows, usually vaginal, which is a significant procedure for the diagnosis and screening of polycystic ovaries.

Although there is still no treatment, polycystic ovaries may still be managed. There are quite a few options, which may eliminate or minimize the symptoms, such as infertility, acne, excessive hair and menstrual disorders. For cases of infertility, the use of certain medication to trigger ovulation may prove helpful, as well as others to control insulin production and sugar metabolism. The use of anti-diabetic medication such as Metformin, or in combination with other infertility preparations such as clomiphene citrate or gonadotropin may, usually, restore ovulation, preserve a normal menstrual cycle, leading, in many cases, to pregnancy.

The key to a successful managing of the polycystic ovaries is knowledge. In time, when research is completed, polycystic ovaries may be controlled better and even cured.