| Greetings,
Only a few years ago, many women were just starting
to hear the acronym "PCOS" or the full name of the
condition, polycystic ovarian syndrome. It seemed as
though every woman's magazine had at least one
article on PCOS as a cause of infertility. At the same
time, much was being learned about PCOS by the
medical practitioners who care for women and their
reproductive health. The result: far more accurate
diagnosis and appropriate treatment for millions of
women.
Now, the buzz word is "Syndrome O" -- if you haven't
already, you'll soon be seeing articles on this "latest"
diagnostic news.
PCOS. Syndrome O. Who should care?
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What Are They?
It all started out in the 1930's as Stein-Levanthal
syndrome, named after the two doctors who zeroed in
on this collection of symptoms in some women, many of
whom had difficulty getting pregnant. Years later, the
same syndrome became more widely known as PCOS.
Unfortunately, the very name (polycystic ovarian
syndrome) resulted in confusion, since not all women
with PCOS have recurring cysts on their ovaries.
Now, in fact, research has advanced knowledge about
this syndrome to the point of realizing that PCOS isn't
just an ovarian disease.
Most of the research has been conducted by
reproductive endocrinologists, experts in both
conception and the body's hormonal system. What
we've learned up to this point is that a woman's
ovarian function and fertility are closely related to her
other bodily functions such as metabolism, nutrition,
activity, and stress.
The term Syndrome O is the latest being used to refer
to a group of symptoms resulting from dysfunctional
hormone production and disruption of ovulation. The
symptoms a woman or her provider may notice include:
- irregular or absent menstruation
- hirsutism, or male-pattern hair growth
- obesity
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Is It Treatable?
Although it's one of the most common causes of female
infertility, PCOS aka Syndrome O is also one of the
most treatable. For some women, lifestyle changes
alone (such as modified diets and physical activity
changes) can have a tremendous impact in their overall
health and fertility. For many, clomiphene citrate (an
inexpensive, oral fertility medication) can result in
ovulation, which can be further enhanced with
intrauterine insemination (IUI) to increase conception
odds.
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The Insulin Connection
Because a relationship with insulin over-production
appears evident with Syndrome O, some insulin-
lowering medications seem promising, too. The most
common is Metformin, a drug that is FDA approved for
diabetes and used experimentally (but often) with non-
diabetic, insulin resistant fertility patients.
An important point: Syndrome O has been documented
to be related with health conditions that are even more
distressing than infertility, notably heart disease,
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
Conception and improved health success if often seen
by women who combine lifestyle changes, insulin-
lowering medication, and fertility treatment.
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Early Diagnosis, Best Treatment
All women, whether they're trying to conceive or not,
should be aware of the symptoms of Syndrome O aka
PCOS. These symptoms can not only be discouraging
and mildly upsetting, they can also be signs of
impending serious health conditions in mid to later life.
Accurate diagnosis by an expert is the key to optimal
treatment.
As always, I and my staff are here to answer your
questions about Syndrome O, PCOS, and any other
reproductive or hormonal system concerns you may
have. Just ask!
Sincerely,
Sonja B. Kristiansen, MD
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