Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be a daunting diagnosis to receive.
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The unfortunate truth is that there is no cure for PCOS.
But because the disorder can have a profound effect on your health and well-being, treatment is a must.
Is she bothered most about excess hair growth?
Does she want to have a baby?
Does she need to get her periods back on track?
The advice is controversial, but some physicians believe that PCOS always requires metformin, notes Dr. Dunaif.
Theres no reason to give every woman with PCOS metformin.
And its not a good way to reduce the male hormone symptoms, like excess hair growth.
Turns out, in high doses, its very good at blocking male hormones, explains Dunaif.
For that reason, its used to target excess hair growth, asymptom of PCOSthat can be particularly embarrassing.
This is because one hair growth cycle takes two to three months.
When patients dont know that, they get frustrated when they dont see results quickly, he says.
Talk to your doctor about what you’re free to realistically expect and when.
If the main concern is irregular periods and the resulting potential health risks, this is a great option.
If this goes on, a woman can developendometrial hyperplasiaand even endometrial cancer, she adds.
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A woman should shed this lining at least four times a year, says Dunaif.
One option: taking progesterone (often called a progesterone challenge).
But the resulting bleeding can be heavy for some women.
Another: Take birth control pills to get the regular cycle back online.
These have the added benefit of lowering male hormones, too.
But these worries are largely unfounded, notes Dunaif.
Theres no data to support that taking them increases the risk of diabetes.
This is a good therapeutic option for young women, she says.
Like spironolactone, its not safe for women who may become pregnant, as it might affect the fetus.
Injectable gonadotropins may also be used, as well as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
This can help enormously with regulating the menstrual cycle.
It will put a woman closer to the point where she will ovulate on her own, he says.
As for how to do it, long-term weight loss can be difficult.
One thing is for sure, though: A restricted diet wont cut it.
Changing your eating habits means making tweaks and adopting a balanced diet that you could stick with long-term.
Key to making lasting changes is shifting your mindset on the way you view food, says Medling.
Try an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Lower Stress
Stress exacerbates inflammation.
(7) Put yourself first and ensure your needs are met, says Medling.
This may be via mediation, exercise, or getting in tune with hobbies you love.
By reducing stress, you’re free to reduce inflammation and better your hormonal balance, she says.
She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.
She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology.
She was previously an assistant editor atPreventionwhere she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
Additional Sources
Reproductive System Disorders
What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?
