Ovarian Cysts And Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – You Can Overcome Them
October 29th, 2011
The battle against ovarian cysts and PCOS is one that a large number of women around the world suffer from. This is because it is a common problem caused by hormonal imbalances. The cure is hard to find and learning to live with it is a difficult task to cope with.
PCOS is also known as polycystic ovarian syndrome. One of the features of this illness is a large number of small cysts, or fluid filled sacs that grow in the ovaries of an affected individual. These cysts are not the only symptom, however, and when all the symptoms occur together PCOS can be a difficult illness to live with and has a variety of symptoms.
PCOS causes an irregularity in the menstrual cycle as well as the body to produce an excess of the male hormone Androgen. PCOS can also cause other health problems that would appear unrelated to the hormonal issues, such as a resistance to insulin. Weight gain and high blood pressure is also a problem.
The symptoms of PCOS can be distressing and upsetting and include, mainly, a major disruption in the menstrual cycle sometimes an excess of bleeding and sometimes no bleeding. Both of these can point to a lack of ovulation and infertility. Another reason people can find PCOS so difficult to deal with is due to the excessive hair growth in areas such as the top lip, lower abdomen and nipples that is caused by the body’s production of Androgen.
Diagnosis is best done by a medical practitioner and mainly takes place in two parts. Firstly, the physical evidence such as lack of periods and excess hairiness will be taken into account, then diagnostic tests such as blood results telling of excess male hormone in the blood and possibly ultra sounds on the ovaries to check for cysts.
Medication is the most useful tool in the fight to control PCOS and ovarian cysts. Different medications are used to treat different aspects of the illness and each woman’s needs will vary depending on what her priorities are. For those, who are most worried about there appearance, the excess hair on their face and body is the priority, and for those wishing to start a family, infertility is the biggest worry.
For those who wish to get the excessive hair on their face and body dealt with, there are a couple of options. The medication Spironolactone is a diuretic that helps to suppress the action of the male hormone that causes hairiness. Finasteride is a medication that works in the same way. For those who wish to have their menstrual cycle regulated, the pill used for contraception is often prescribed. None of these treatments should be used if the aim is to get pregnant.
There is a medication on the market, called Clomiphene, that has a high success rate at succeeding in inducing regular ovulation, and a 50% success rate at success in pregnancy. More aggressive treatment involving hormone injections is available for those that this is not successful for.
Along with medication, it is possible to alter your lifestyle to ensure that you give yourself the best chance to allow your body to maintain healthy blood pressure levels and optimum chances of ovulation. This can be achieved by a sensible diet, weight control, exercise and stress management. The battle against ovarian cysts and PCOS need not be as hard as it used to be.
There are also many natural treatments for PCOS and ovarian cysts. You can read more about them at PCOSandFibroids.com. You will find information also about uterine fibroids treatment and symptoms.
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