Diagnosis and Treatments

Information about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome -- commonly referred to as PCOS -- is the most common hormonal disorder of women in their reproductive years, affecting 5-10% of these patients. The classic symptoms are irregular periods, hair growth in a male body pattern and weight gain. However, 40% of women with PCOS are thin and 30% do not have excess hair. PCOS is often part of a metabolic syndrome that involves risks for diabetes, elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides, cardiovascular disease, as well as uterine pre-cancer and infertility.

Did You Know:

Women with PCOS are at increased risk for impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus due to insulin resistance.

A recent study found up that to 40% of obese, reproductive-age women with PCOS had impaired glucose tolerance and that 7.5% had diabetes.

In addition, 15% of normal-weight women with PCOS had impaired glucose tolerance and 1.5% had diabetes, a rate almost three times that of the general population.

PCO Treatments

At Fertility C.A.R.E. the treatment of PCOS involves weight loss (if applicable), optimizing general health (including improvement in diabetes risk, blood pressure and evaluating for uterine pre-cancer risk) and ovulation induction. Ovulation induction may be achieved by: fertility medications; weight loss; or laparascopic ovarian surgery (ovarian drilling). Recently, Metformin has shown promise in restoring ovulation and improving egg and embryo quality in PCOS patients, as well as reducing their risk of miscarriage and pregnancy-induced diabetes. For more information on procedures and medications for PCO read:

Case Study:

In a randomized trial, obese women with PCOS were given either 500 mg of Metformin three times daily for 35 days or a placebo. Thirty-four percent of the women in the Metformin group ovulated spontaneously during treatment as compared with only 4% who ovulated in the placebo group. The subjects who did not ovulate after 35 days continued into the second phase of the trial, when Clomiphene was give to both groups. Ninety percent of women who received the combined Metformin and Clomiphene ovulated compared to only 8% who ovulated in the group given placebo and Clomiphene. (New England Journal of Medicine, 6/25/98, pp.1876-1880).

 
At Fertility C.A.R.E., we believe PCOS is a chronic condition that can be successfully managed with a comprehensive evaluation, close surveillance and good communication between doctor and patient.

Read more about PCOS in the news or visit PCOSsupport.org to speak with other women online who are living with PCOS.