How to Understand and Manage PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Manage PCOS

Check out how to understand and manage PCOS through easy steps for better management and prevention in the female population.

PCOS is a very common female infertility disease. Around 4 to 20% of women fall victim to this disease in the world every year.

The same rate of PCOS is in the female population of Australia. This disease is considered a serious health crisis by WHO (World Health Organisation) in the female population.

If you are a female suffering from this serious condition then this blog by our writeris for you. Let us show you the steps on how to understand and manage PCOS in a simple way.

How To Understand and Manage PCOS?

Understanding and managing PCOS are essential for a healthy life. Because this is a disease in which the female endocrine system produces androgen.

It is a male hormone typically beneficial for male sexual health. Androgen is also vital for other manly characteristics such as hair growth, bone development, and deep voice.

In Australia, many females are suffering from hyperandrogenism. This hormone is present in a small amount in women, but in PCOS the body is producing it in abundance. This abnormal synthesis results in negative sexual health in females.

After suffering from PCOS women have higher growth of facial hair, body hair, etc. Also, they develop high-pitched and deep voices.

One of the important aspects of understanding the disease is its origin and the complications it presents such as the following.

Understanding the PCOS

PCOS is described as a syndrome or collection of diseases. Therefore, this condition presents many complications for the female reproductive system and overall health. This complication presents a new health dilemma for the Australian population.

a. Development of Cysts

The first complication of PCOS is the development of cysts in the female ovaries. These cysts or sacs of fluid and air deteriorate ovarian health.

Apart from damaging female eggs, these fluid sacs protrude into the fallopian tubes. Resulting in complete disruption of the ovulation process.

Presence of cysts in the ovary results in painful periods, pelvic pain, and abdominal cramps. It is important to do monthly check-ups with your gynaecologist on a regular basis after developing them.

b. Type 2 Diabetes Onset

One of the biggest and more horrifying aspects of PCOS is the onset of type 2 diabetes. Because females have irregular hormonal levels that’s why they progress towards diabetes. The most common cause of female diabetes is PCOS and its consequences.

Therefore, recommended guidelines suggest that females should consult with an endocrinologist before moving on to conceiving a child.

Females struggling with diabetes management can pass on the disease to their offspring. This type of conception further results in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the paediatric population. 

c. Obesity

One of the common consequences of PCOS is a high amount of fat deposition in the female body and ovaries. Obesity itself presents many health risks such as heart attack, diabetes, muscular pain, osteoarthritis (inflammation of bone joints), and higher cholesterol levels.

Due to an abnormal amount of fat cells, females struggle for healthy body weight. Obesity is considered the biggest silent killer in Australia.

Abnormal androgen levels and obesity resulted in many premature births, miscarriages, and defects in the birth.

Therefore, it’s important to keep a healthy weight and proper medical examination by a medical doctor and nutritionist.

d. Progression of Ovarian Cancer

PCOS presents a big risk for females developing ovarian cancer. Because the longer cyst remains in the ovaries, the better home they provide to abnormal cellular growth.

In Australia, one-third of the female population suffers from ovarian cancer due to polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Untreated PCOS has a more than a threefold chance of progressing into cancer of the ovaries. This condition presents many problems for healthcare practitioners in properly guiding and preventing cancers.

Ovarian cancer is treatable but also has a high mortality rate therefore special care is needed for its prevention at the earliest stage possible.

Almost all types of cancer are treatable given that they are detected as early as possible for accurate diagnosis of its mutation.

e. Chronic UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

One of the complications in understanding and managing PCOS is its symptoms give rise to concurrent chronic UTIs. Due to excessive androgen hormone release, women’s uterus becomes swollen and prone to infections.

Having inflammation while urinating and abscess in the urine are key symptoms that play a vital role in promoting infections in the vaginal walls. Ovarian UTI is one of the most common found infections in females and is easily ignored.

Gynaecologists suggest having regular care of the uterus with self-hygiene practices to the prevention of any serious reproductive disease.

f.  Infertility

PCOS is considered the biggest contributor to the rising cases of infertility among women. In recent years, Australia has seen the highest increase in cases of infertility induced by polycystic ovary syndrome.

Due to the abnormal production of estrogenic, female ovulation is either partially or completely dormant in the ovaries.

This action results in blockage of the fallopian tube and subsequent female egg flow disruption, rendering conception of a child almost impossible.

Thus, PCOS plays an important role in female infertility and its consequential outcome in the elevated rate of divorce in many countries around the world.

g. Changes in Menstrual Cycle

Understanding and managing PCOS also means having an active approach to any changes in your menstrual cycles. For example, missing periods for more than two months and having pain in the abdomen and legs for weeks without any other medical condition.

Most of the females experience no pain while few patients suffer terrible discomfort. PCOS induces periods of pain that sometimes become severe and need the intervention of anti-inflammatory medication and anti-spasmodic etc.

While not every female has similar symptoms due to the different reasons for this condition. Therefore, tracking each patient’s indicators of disease are tricky for expert gynaecologists as well.

Managing PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Management of PCOS is equally important as its diagnosis. Most of the females tend to underestimate the devastations of this disease resulting in further health complications.

In Australia, almost 30% of patients have absolutely zero information about this disease which add like oil to the fire.

And the sick ones that do have information and have to buy medical equipment related to the disease are also ill-informed as well. Management of this critical disease can be done in a few simple steps such as:

Managing Changes and Reporting

Always look for any changes in your periods and their typical duration. Although it’s not a hard and fast rule, missing them does present a certain risk. Therefore, you should be watching out for these factors.

Also having a smelly discharge in your periods indicates the presence of a bacterial infection or fungus that can cause trouble in the future.

Due to having a tight work schedule females are more prone to devalue these symptoms. So, this disease management and keeping a tight eye on menstrual changes is of utmost importance in the careful administration of preventive measures.

Lifestyle Modification and Healthy Eating Habits

The first line of treatment for PCOS is lifestyle modification and eating healthy foods. Exercising regularly decreases the chance of androgen storage and its negative effects.

It’s recommended to use vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, cabbage, carrots, and all type of salads that are rich in fiber and vitamins. Easting vitamins can reduce the chances of having PCOS to almost 50%.

Nutritionists consider exercise and healthy eating habits from moderate to aggressive intervention solely enough for the prevention of ovarian diseases.

Also exercising reduces the stress on the mind and body thus further reducing any damage to health and ovaries.

Managing Diabetes

Diabetes is the world’s top pandemic at the moment with hundreds of millions suffering from it. According to the IDF (international diabetic federation), the world’s total 10.9% population is suffering from this disease.

Diabetes mellitus is also a leading contributor to female infertility and cases of PCOS. More than 27% of all female diabetic patients are suffering from the polycystic ovarian syndrome.

High levels of androgen cause massive insulin resistance on cellular and ovarian levels. Making ovaries vulnerable to fat deposition results in partial ovulation. Conceiving a child like this results in premature foetus death and abnormal delivery.

By managing diabetes by insulin injections or medications such as metformin is necessary for the treatment of the condition.

Taking Proper Medication

Although PCOS is idiopathic and has no treatment or permanent cure. But there are many medications that can keep the worst symptoms away. Contraceptive pills are used widely for alleviating pain and ovulation obstruction as standard prophylaxis.

Metformin is also used extensively in most diabetic and non-diabetic females for the reduction of high glucose levels and also insulin resistance.

Metformin is a good and credible source for preventing insulin resistance in the cells. Thus, promoting sensitivity and increasing fat metabolism.

Conclusion

We have provided you with all the heavyweight guidelines from world renowned research institutes currently active in the research of PCOS and its prevention.

For all the patients and patients’ caretakers, it’s important to know how to understand and manage PCOS effectively.

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