Cecily never really worried that her periods are not regular because, like many girls, she considered her monthly cycle would take time to settle. But then Cecily period had stopped for several months, so she went to see a doctor.
The doctor noticed that Cecily acne had worsened and that he has gained much weight since his appointment last. He said he wanted to check Cecily for a condition called polycystic ovary sydrome (PCOS).
Does polycystic ovary syndrome?
Polycystic (pronounced: pol-ee-sis-tik) ovary syndrome is a common health problem that may affect adolescent girls and women. Although there is no really knows what causes PCOS, appears to be associated with hormonal imbalance in a girl.
Both girls and those who produce the sex hormones, but in different amounts. In girls, the ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone, and androgens. These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and ovulation of a girl, when the egg is released. Even though androgens are sometimes referred to as "male hormones," every female produces them.
In girls with PCOS, the ovaries produce higher than normal amounts of androgens, and this can interfere with egg development and release. Sometimes not a mature egg, cyst, a small sac filled with fluid, to flourish. Instead of eggs released during ovulation, such as during a normal menstrual cycle, building on ovarian cysts and can become enlarged. Because girls with PCOS do not ovulate or release an egg every month, it is unusual for them to have irregular periods or not answered.
Although PCOS (which is commonly called Stein-Leventhal syndrome) was first recognized in the 1930's, doctors can not say for sure what causes it. Research has shown that PCOS may be related to increased insulin production in the body. Women with PCOS may produce too much insulin, which signals their ovaries to release extra male hormones. PCOS seems to run in families, too, so if someone in your family have it, you may be more likely to develop it.
If PCOS is not treated properly, can put women at risk for many problems. Girls with PCOS are more likely to have infertility, excessive hair growth, acne, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal bleeding from the uterus, and cancer.
The good news is that, although there is no cure for PCOS, can be treated. The most important step is diagnosing the condition, due to PCOS treatment reduces the likelihood of a girl has serious side effects.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
A key sign of PCOS is irregular or missed periods because of the effects of conditions in the ovaries to make a girl stop ovulating. However, because it could take up to 2 years after the first period for a girl's menstrual cycle to become regular, it will be difficult to recognize the missed period as a sign of PCOS in adolescent girls. balanced hormone levels can cause changes in the entire body of a girl, not just her ovaries.
So doctors also look for other signs that might indicate PCOS:
* Very heavy periods or irregular periods
* Weight loss, obesity, or difficulty maintaining normal body weight, especially if the extra weight is concentrated around the waist
* A condition called hirsutism (pronounced: her-suh-tiz-um), where a girl grows extra hair on his face, chest, abdomen, nipple area, or back (a little of this is normal for most girls, though)
* Thinning hair on the head (doctors call this alopecia)
* Acne and clogged pores
* The dark, thickened skin around the neck, armpits, or breasts (this is called acanthosis nigricans)
* High blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes mellitus (high levels of sugar in your blood)
Girls who show certain signs of puberty early - such as girls who develop underarm or pubic hair before age 8 - may be at greater risk of having PCOS later.
How is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Diagnosed?
If you have taken your concerns about your body to your doctor, you are on the right track. Your doctor may refer you to a gynecologist or endocrinologist for diagnosis.
The gynecologist or endocrinologist will ask about any concerns and symptoms you have, your past health, your family's health, any medications you're taking, allergies you may have, and other issues. He will also ask specific questions about periods and regularity. This is called the medical history.
In addition to your medical history, your doctor will perform a physical examination, which includes checking your weight, and checking especially for physical signs such as acne, hair growth, and dark skin. Your doctor may perform gynecological examination to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, but this is not always necessary for diagnosis.
A doctor can also do a blood test to diagnose PCOS or other conditions, such as thyroid or other ovarian or gland problems. Blood tests allow doctors to measure androgen, insulin and other hormone levels. The results of this test may help doctors to determine the type of treatment a girl will receive.
Your doctor may also order an ultrasound to look at your ovaries and to determine whether you have cysts or other abnormalities of the ovaries. Because cysts are not always visible, this test is not always used.
Early diagnosis and treatment for PCOS are important because the condition can put girls at risk for long-term problem. Getting treatment for PCOS is also a good idea if you want to have a baby someday - PCOS often causes infertility if not treated. But when PCOS is treated properly, many women with the condition have healthy babies.
In addition, many girls with PCOS can get pregnant. If you are sexually active, you need to use a condom every time you have sex to avoid pregnant or get sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This is important whether or not you have PCOS.
How is it Treated?
Although there is no cure for PCOS, there are several ways that the condition can be treated and managed.
If a girl is overweight or obese, the doctor will recommend that he lose weight. Weight loss can be very effective in reducing the many health conditions associated with PCOS, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Sometimes weight loss alone can restore normal hormone levels, causing many of the symptoms disappear or become less severe.
Physician or registered dietitian who can see your food intake and exercise and activity to tailor a weight loss program for you. Exercise is a great way to help combat the weight gain that often accompanies PCOS as well as ways to reduce bloating, another symptom girls with PCOS sometimes experience.
Sometimes doctors prescribe medication to treat PCOS. A doctor might first have a girl try birth control pills or another hormone pill called progesterone to help control the hormone levels in their bodies and regulate the menstrual cycle. Birth control pills may help control acne and excessive hair growth in some girls, but they do not work for everyone.
other drugs used to treat PCOS include antiandrogens, which counter the effects of excess androgens in the body of a girl. Antiandrogens can help cleanse the skin and hair growth problems in children of women with PCOS.
Another drug, metformin, used to treat diabetes, can lower insulin levels. In some girls with PCOS, can help control ovulation and androgen levels. This can make a girl's menstrual cycles more regular. Some girls and women treated with metformin also decreased body weight and reduce high blood pressure.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Overcome By :
Having PCOS can be hard on a girl's self esteem, because some symptoms, such as skin problems and hair and weight, can be seen. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce the physical symptoms - and take care of the emotional side of living with PCOS.
Although the drugs used to treat PCOS will slow down or stop excessive hair growth for many girls, different types of products available to help a girl get rid of hair where she does not want it. Depilatory creams can gently remove facial hair on the upper lip or chin. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully so you do not develop a rash or allergic reaction.
Tweezing and waxing a lot of other things you can do (at home or in a salon) to manage hair growth. A girl can also visit a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin problems) or qualified hair removal specialist for electrolysis and laser surgery treatments. This procedure offers long-term removal of unwanted hair, but they are more expensive.
If you have severe acne as a symptom of PCOS, may improve if part of your care, including birth control pills or antiandrogens. If not, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist for further acne treatment. dermatologist can also recommend medications to help reduce skin darkening or discoloration, and to prevent hair growth.
Some girls with PCOS may become depressed, in this case can help to talk to a therapist or other mental health professionals. Talking with other teens and women with PCOS is a great way to share information about treatment and get support. Your doctor may be able to recommend a local support group.
If you can not find a local group, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association offers a "Big Cyster" program for teenage girls as well as online message boards. If you join, you will be connected with other women or teenage girls with PCOS who you can ask for advice, support, or just listening ear.
