Living With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Some diseases and conditions have been around a long time and are widely understood while others are rather new even though they have probably existed just as long. They only now have a name. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one that is relatively new and not all doctors will make that diagnosis. This is something that happens to women and can greatly affect their ability to conceive and also has a detrimental effect on the rest of the body if a woman with PCOS does not make some changes in her life.
There are a few common symptoms that may lead a woman to believe that she needs to see a doctor. Those with polycystic ovarian syndrome often have problems with weight gain. They may not eat any more than women without PCOS, but they gain anyway. They may also have irregular periods (though not always) and the cysts may form on the ovaries, which is where the condition gets its name. Other smaller symptoms include hair growth on the face and other areas where it would not normally be and skin tags that can appear anywhere on the body. Low energy can also be a symptom.
Most women who are diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome do not know they have it until they see a doctor because they have infertility issues. They may not ovulate a lot, or they may miscarry over and over again. A doctor will check for cystic ovaries and will do a test to see if someone is insulin resistant. That means they produce insulin, but it does not register in the body, therefore the body makes too much. Left untreated, this causes the pancreas to burn out and type 2 diabetes is the result.
Eating a low carb diet can help reverse insulin resistance and help a women with polycystic ovarian syndrome lose weight. Once weight is down, cycles may regulate on their own. There are some medications that can help with insulin resistance too. There are some low level fertility treatments like Clomid that can help a woman with PCOS conceive, and she may need progesterone to keep the pregnancy going if she tends to miscarry. At times, if cysts on the ovaries are bad, they may have to be removed. This may or may not be problematic for future conception endeavors. Remember, even if you lose an ovary, you can still ovulate on the other side, but you may do so fewer times than a woman without any such problems with PCOS.
If you go to a doctor who tells you that you can not have children because you have polycystic ovarian syndrome, find another doctor. While in some severe cases this may be true, that is far from true with many women who have this condition. Some have trouble and need assistance having children, but they can eventually have a family. Some have no problems building a family and may never know that they have PCOS. Some doctors will not help much with this diagnosis, but know that having children is possible so look around for a doctor that will help you with your polycystic ovarian syndrome and your specific needs.