Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment Specialist Midtown, Manhattan & UES

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, often called PCOS, is a condition that affects women of childbearing age with a disorder of the endocrine system. It’s relatively common, affecting as many as one in 10 women. The syndrome can be detected in girls as young as 11 and affects nearly five million women in the United States. Suppose you have been diagnosed with PCOS or have concerning symptoms. In that case, you should always be evaluated with a thorough consultation and examination by a physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

If you have PCOS, you often may have enlarged ovaries that contain pockets of fluid. Called follicles, or cysts, these tiny fluid sacs can be seen through an ultrasound.

It’s a severe condition that, for many women, is accompanied by other health complications. PCOS can affect your:

• Heart
• Appearance
• Hormones
• Menstrual cycles
• Fertility
• Blood vessels

In addition to the ovarian cysts, most women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome also have:

• Irregular periods
• High levels of the male hormone androgens
• Acne
• Excessive hair growth
• Obesity

Causes Unknown

As with so many reproductive disorders, the causes are relatively unknown. However, many researchers suspect that genetics play a significant role in PCOS development because many women also have mothers or sisters with the same issues.

While all women produce androgens, women with PCOS make more than average. This hormonal imbalance is another trait shared by most women with PCOS. The condition also affects the fertilization and release of eggs for reproduction.

Additionally, insulin production is out of sorts in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. As a result, the pancreas produces too much insulin. That, in turn, increases male hormone production and interferes with the proper functions of the ovaries.

Finally, low-grade inflammation is another common trait held by PCOS sufferers. The body’s white blood cells cannot produce sufficient antibodies to fight infections, resulting in inflammation. This constant low-grade inflammation causes the affected ovaries to keep producing the male hormones that inhibit pregnancy.

Our doctors provide complete Obstetrics and Gynecology care to women of all ages. Our ob-gyn clinic offers a full range of gynecology services, including annual check-ups and routine pap smears, as well as PCOS Treatment and GYN procedures. Our cutting-edge facility is outfitted with the most up-to-date ob-gyn technology.

Symptoms Begin Early

Different women may exhibit other symptoms of PCOS. Most of the symptoms, however, first appear soon after they begin menstruating. At the same time, many women don’t start to show signs of the disorder until much later in life, particularly following a substantial weight gain.

Your doctor may not even begin looking for signs of polycystic ovarian syndrome until you present various symptoms. The degree and dimension of the symptoms vary significantly between women.

The most common signs include:

• Infertility, PCOS is one of the most common reasons for the inability to have children.
• Irregular menstrual cycles, seen early in young women, which is the most common trait of the syndrome — for example, when the time between periods is typically longer than 35 days, when you have fewer than seven or eight periods in a year or when you fail to have a period for four months or longer
• Hirsutism, which is the production of excessive hair on the chest, face, back, toes, and thumbs
• Ovarian cysts
• Significant dandruff
• Oily skin and acne
• Sleep apnea
• The appearance of many loose flaps of skin called skin tags
• Hair thinning or male pattern baldness
• Pelvic pain
• Dark patches of skin appearing randomly all over your body
• Weight gain

While some women with polycystic ovarian syndrome ovulate and produce eggs, others cannot get pregnant with PCOS. However, PCOS and pregnancy limitations don’t have to be accepted since many women have had successful pregnancies with the proper treatment.

Associated Risks

In addition to the risks noted above, women with PCOS face other consequences that could lead to life-threatening conditions, such as:

• Higher risk of heart attack
• Increased blood pressure
• Higher LDL levels
• Sleep apnea
• Depression and anxiety

Tests and Diagnoses

There’s no definitive test to determine for sure whether you have the polycystic ovarian disorder. Your doctor relies on the apparent symptoms you present and your testimony about your feelings and menstrual cycles, such as:

• A physical examination that includes a pelvic exam
• Blood tests to measure your hormone levels, with particular attention on the number of androgens you produce
• Insulin levels tests
• Fasting and blood glucose tests
• Vaginal ultrasound to get a clearer picture of your reproductive organs

Treatment Begins at Home

There is no cure yet for the polycystic ovarian syndrome. Treatment mainly consists of controlling the effects of the symptoms and side effects of the condition. A physician should evaluate symptoms with a thorough consultation and examination for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Women who want to get pregnant with PCOS, for example, often have great success with infertility treatments. In addition, several different kinds of medications are available for women with PCOS to get pregnant by increasing or kick-starting ovulation. Beware, however, that most of these treatments increase your chances of having multiple births.

The essential treatment begins at home with lifestyle modifications that also improve your heart. The majority of women who are overweight with PCOS and diabetes can benefit from a change in diet.

A polycystic ovarian syndrome diet consists of:

• Drastically reducing your consumption of processed foods and food with additives.
• Filling your daily diet with more whole grains, lean meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit.

In addition to dramatic PCOS weight loss, your improved diet helps your menstrual cycles get back on track and normalizes your dysfunctional hormones. So even if you lose as little as 10 percent of your current weight, you can begin to stabilize your insulin levels as well.

Doctors often prescribe birth control pills or a vaginal ring to help regulate your menstrual cycles and reverse PCOS hair loss. Other medications are available to block the effects of the excessive male hormones you may have. In addition, pills or creams can slow hair growth. However, make sure you’re not pregnant before taking any hair-controlling substances that could cause congenital disabilities.

It’s essential to eat right, quit smoking, and exercise regularly while being treated for PCOS. Especially when changes to your appearance become drastic, you are at a greater risk of developing emotional issues on top of your physical problems. Fear and embarrassment may arise. But you can overcome those emotions with the help of your OBGYN and perhaps even a mental health professional. Support groups that include women with similar issues also can provide an excellent source of comfort while you recover.

Do you have questions about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? Would you like to schedule an appointment with one of the best OBGYN’s NYC has to offer? Please get in touch with our office.

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