How is PCOS treated?

The treatment given to a person suffering from PCOS varies depending on the preferences of the patient. Depending on the final aim that the patient wants to achieve as an outcome of the treatment, the entire treatment course is designed. The four basic goals of the patients could be- decreasing the level of insulin in the body, infertility treatment, curing of hirsutism, regulating menstrual cycles and preventing the occurrence of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. For patients who are obese and have PCOS, the optimal method of treatment is to encourage them to lose weight, as losing all the excess weight can lead to regular menstrual cycles. Low carbohydrate diets and low GI diets are usually recommended to such women. Several medications such as pioglitazone, rosiglitazone and metformin are given to women to want their insulin levels to decrease and these medications can prove helpful in regulating the menstrual cycle and ovulation as well.

Most of the women who experience infertility problems, suffer from anovulation. Urine tests are done to detect the surge of LH with the help of ovulation predictor kits. Fertility monitors and also a detailed chart of cervical mucus are used to identify the ovulation pattern. Basal body temperatures are also used to identify ovulation. Also, after a period of seven days after ovulation, serum progesterone in mid-luteal phase is measured. Women, who are overweight and have anovulation, usually are suggested to improve their diet and cut down their weight in order to regulate their ovulation. If even the weight loss treatment does not work, then FSH and clomiphene citrate are used to treat infertility. For women, who show no improvement to clomiphone or diet treatments, ART or assisted reproductive technology) procedures which include controlling of hyperstimulation with the help of FSH injections and IVF (in vitro fertilisation) are used. However, women who have PCOS can run the risk of suffering from ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome which is a dangerous medical condition. A recent development has been the facility to allow occytes which are in found in various follicles to be extracted and matured in natural cycles without use of simulation. This technique is known as In vitro maturation (IVM). Ovarian drilling is also done to treat polycystic ovaries at times.

To reduce hirsutisum, a standard contraceptive pill is used by many women. It is usually observed that In vitro maturation (IVM) is observed in almost all the contraceptive pills used by women for this purpose as it is supposed to have the ability to block male hormones that contribute to excessive hair. Menstruation can also be regulated with a contraceptive pill. The correction and regulation of menstrual period is recommended as it contributes greatly to the well being of the woman. Thus, these are a few of the treatments that are available to treat PCOS. Several women who have been experiencing trouble conceiving because of this problem can avail any of the above mentioned techniques and reduce their problems to a great extent.


Female Infertility

There are different kinds of infertility experienced by women and the causes of infertility in women are also many and varied.  As 40-50% of all infertility cases are caused by female infertility factors, there is a need to examine the causes behind it. One of the most important causes of female infertility is age. Typically, when a woman is born, over 400,000 eggs are present in each ovary.  This quantity decreases over time and this continues till a woman reaches 50 years. At this age, menstruation stops and the menopause period starts.  In this article, we are going to explore the effects and diagnosis of ovarian problems.

According to various studious done on this subject, the first marked decrease in fertility is noticed around the age of twenty seven, with a clear indication at the age of 35. The reason behind this is that over time both the quality and quantity of eggs seems to decrease. In case of a child being conceived at this time, there is a danger of chromosomal abnormalities being present in the child. Hence, it is absolutely essential for women to start infertility treatment as soon as possible in order to ensure a higher degree of success as well as to prevent chromosomal abnormalities from being present in their child.  For women who are above the age of 44, it might not be possible to conceive naturally without the aid of donor eggs.

One of the most important parts in the female reproductive system is the ovaries. Every month, one of the two ovaries that are present produces an egg which slowly develops in a sack that is filled with a fluid which is known as a follicle. When the egg is ready, it is transported with the help of fallopian tubes to initiate the fertilization process. The ovaries also produce progesterone and estrogen. The hormones produced in the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland along with the hormones produced by the ovaries is responsible for regulating the ovulation and also the menstrual cycle. According to reports, approximately 25% of all female infertility cases occur because of irregular ovulation as any problems or irregularities in the ovulation process make the fertilization process harder.  Ovarian problems can occur due to either hormonal imbalances or conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

For women who suffer from irregular menstrual cycles, it is necessary to get some hormonal evaluations done. The testing for hormones that are responsible for menopause such as FSH and estradiol, testing of testosterone levels and prolactin and for thyroid hormone or TSH are done. Then the hormones which are imbalanced and are the cause of problems are determined and the necessary treatment is given.

There is no single way of infertility treatment. There are different methods of treatment available and depending on the health of the patient, the age and family history, a detailed study is performed and a preferable mode is determined. Multiple treatments can also be done if needed and even surgeries are performed to correct certain abnormalities.