PCOD is a condition which can causes irregular period & ovulation problems despite having more than normal number of eggs in ovaries. It is a condition which affects women from all age groups from adolescent age till old age.
Additionally PCOD can cause:
- Hirsutism – excessive facial & body hairs
- Acne
- Male pattern baldness
Women with PCOD are at increased the risk of following :
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Risk of cardiovascular diseases
- Risk of endometrial hyperplasia & endometrial cancer
- Risk of anxiety & depression
Woman with PCOD are at higher risk of pregnancy complications:
- Risk of miscarriage
- Risk of preterm labour
- Risk of diabetes during pregnancy
Routine tests & evaluation in PCOD includes:
- Pelvic ultrasound & assessment of ovaries
- Hormonal assessment : LH, testosterone , AMH, DHEAS
- BMI & waist circumference
- Glucose challenge test
- Blood pressure
- Assessment of depression or anxiet
Treatment of PCOS is aimed at correcting the present concern of the patient:
- Ovulation problems
- Correction of period irregularity
- Weight reduction
- Individualised care during pregnancy
- Lifelong follow up to monitor the risk of diabetes & cardiovascular diseases.
Options for fertility treatment for PCOS women are:
- Ovulation induction
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI) if any male factor is present
- Laparoscopy
- IVF
- Prevention of miscarriage
Some infertile women with PCOS may need laparoscopy for following indication:
- Women who fail to ovulate with oral tablets.
- High levels of LH & AMH.
- High risk for Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome with hormones injection.
- Women who need assessment of fallopian tubes.
- Cannot come for repeated follicular monitoring.
- Normal male factor with fair chance of natural pregnancy.
There are conditions other than PCOS which can cause similar issues:
- Thyroid disorders
- Prolactin disorders
- Cushing syndrome
- Idiopathic hirsutism
Important things to consider during your PCOS treatment:
- PCOS is a very complex hormonal , metabolic , lifestyle & psychological issues.
- It is a lifelong condition.
- It is a lifelong condition.
- Before labelling a woman as having PCOS it is important to make sure that there are no other hormonal conditions which can cause similar issues.
- It requires individualised evaluation & treatment planning.