Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that disrupts a woman’s menstrual cycle and affects fertility. But, what are the other lasting health implications?
As September marks PCOS Awareness Month, experts share their thoughts on the long-term impacts of PCOS and also debunk some of the common myths about the condition.
In women with PCOS, ovaries produce an excessive quantity of androgens, the male sex hormones typically found in minimal quantities in the female body. The excessive androgen production could be due to multiple cysts on ovaries and in some cases, it might be because of insulin resistance – a condition wherein cells do not respond well to insulin.
According to the WHO, PCOS affects around 8-13% of reproductive-aged women globally, and as many as 70% of them may remain undiagnosed.
Common misconceptions about PCOS
Myth 1: Women with PCOS cannot get pregnant.
Fact: PCOS indeed affects fertility as the hormonal imbalance limits the frequency of ovulation. However, by correcting the underlying metabolic issue that contributes to the infrequent ovulation, most people with PCOS can get pregnant.
“By ovulating more frequently/monthly, women with PCOS should have the same chances of getting pregnant as anyone else their age who is ovulating. Treatment options for PCOS include medications such as clomiphene citrate (also known as Clomid) or letrozole (Femara) that can result in more frequent ovulation. These medications can be combined with the use of insulin-sensitizing agents, which can reverse the insulin resistance that can also contribute to infrequent ovulation. Not all women with PCOS have insulin resistance, so the latter intervention may not be beneficial for all women with PCOS,” Dr. Molina Dayal, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and fertility specialist at STLFertility in St. Louis, Missouri, told Medical Daily.
To ensure the success of treatment, it is also important to rule out other contributing fertility issues…
Read the full article here
