The day your doctor breaks the news....
I've always had regular periods and lately I've been missing. Being the natural "worrywart" that I am, I headed to my doctor and she advised me to undergo transvaginal ultrasound and so I did. When I saw the results, I was in disbelief, there it was screaming "PCOS POSITIVE". It's selfish for me to say that I shouldn't be one of those women who have this condition because I'm perfectly healthy (or at least that was what I thought) and this could never get in the way of me having a baby. I couldn't make sense of it, I asked the question that can never be answered...Why me?
What is PCOS? Can we ever understand what it is?
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a disorder of the endocrine which affects about 5 to 10% of women all around the globe. It does not choose any race or nationality and it is very common among women in their reproductive age. I am not alone, you are not alone. There are millions of women who deal with this condition so there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Unfortunately, PCOS is the leading cause of infertility. This is where I got heart-broken. Nobody in my family ever had ovarian cysts and I never imagined myself having a difficulty in conceiving.
Contrary to what most of us believe, not all women with PCOS have polycystic ovaries present (I don't). Unfortunately, a lot of women who have been diagnosed with PCOS have to deal with Ovarian Cyst along with hormonal imbalance.
When the cysts triggers hormonal imbalance, this is where the pattern of symptoms begin and this is called a "Syndrome". It may be confusing but these symptoms are the mere difference between suffering from polycystic ovaries and PCOS.
Contrary to what most of us believe, not all women with PCOS have polycystic ovaries present (I don't). Unfortunately, a lot of women who have been diagnosed with PCOS have to deal with Ovarian Cyst along with hormonal imbalance.
When the cysts triggers hormonal imbalance, this is where the pattern of symptoms begin and this is called a "Syndrome". It may be confusing but these symptoms are the mere difference between suffering from polycystic ovaries and PCOS.
Is there a Cure for PCOS?
This is probably the most important part of this write-up and just like you, I'm also dying to know if I will ever be cured.
There is a thin line between "Yes" and "No" to address this question. Nobody can ever tell us if there is indeed a permanent cure. Yes there are a lot of treatment options available out there for PCOS but we can never claim that it will eliminate the problem forever. What are the things you can do to help alleviate the problem?
1.) Lifestyle Change- This is the easiest thing to do but most of us find it difficult to start exercising and choosing only the healthiest foods we can get. Since PCOS involves insulin resistance, we all know that one of the most effective things to combat this is to engage in a physical activity regularly and start eating healthy. This can also effectively lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Aside from that, this can also help you lose excess weight. Limit your intake of foods that are high in trans fatty acids and saturated fats. Definitely no fast food! Stick with whole-grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meat. A lot of women dramatically improved their condition just by losing 10 lbs. This will aid in restoring balance and menstrual regularity.
2.) Quit Smoking- Women who smoke develop higher levels of androgen (male hormones) that can contribute to PCOS symptoms. Aside from making your skin look so dry, you are also increasing your risk for heart disease.
3.) Birth Control Pills- They can help regulate your period and they help reduce PCOSsymptoms like excessive facial hair and acne. Make sure you ask your doctor about pills that contain anti-androgen substances. Your doctor may also advise you to take a special androgen-lowering medicine that is called spironolactone along with your regular birth control pills. This is only done when your male hormones are very rampant. Do not take this medicine if you are trying to get pregnant.
4.) Metformin- I was surprised when my doctor prescribed Metformin but she explained it to me and I made a little research and now I know why it helps with PCOS. PCOS involves insulin resistance and Metformin is an anti-diabetes medicine and it basically controls blood sugar levels. It is also said to reduce androgen levels and lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It is effective in restoring menstrual cycle and fertility. Depending on the extremity of your condition, your doctor might ask you to take 1 to 3 (500mg) Metformin everyday.
1.) Lifestyle Change- This is the easiest thing to do but most of us find it difficult to start exercising and choosing only the healthiest foods we can get. Since PCOS involves insulin resistance, we all know that one of the most effective things to combat this is to engage in a physical activity regularly and start eating healthy. This can also effectively lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Aside from that, this can also help you lose excess weight. Limit your intake of foods that are high in trans fatty acids and saturated fats. Definitely no fast food! Stick with whole-grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meat. A lot of women dramatically improved their condition just by losing 10 lbs. This will aid in restoring balance and menstrual regularity.
2.) Quit Smoking- Women who smoke develop higher levels of androgen (male hormones) that can contribute to PCOS symptoms. Aside from making your skin look so dry, you are also increasing your risk for heart disease.
3.) Birth Control Pills- They can help regulate your period and they help reduce PCOSsymptoms like excessive facial hair and acne. Make sure you ask your doctor about pills that contain anti-androgen substances. Your doctor may also advise you to take a special androgen-lowering medicine that is called spironolactone along with your regular birth control pills. This is only done when your male hormones are very rampant. Do not take this medicine if you are trying to get pregnant.
4.) Metformin- I was surprised when my doctor prescribed Metformin but she explained it to me and I made a little research and now I know why it helps with PCOS. PCOS involves insulin resistance and Metformin is an anti-diabetes medicine and it basically controls blood sugar levels. It is also said to reduce androgen levels and lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It is effective in restoring menstrual cycle and fertility. Depending on the extremity of your condition, your doctor might ask you to take 1 to 3 (500mg) Metformin everyday.
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