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Lifestyle Changes for PCOS
One of the first treatment approaches recommended for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is making healthy lifestyle changes. Adopting habits like a balanced diet and regular exercise can help manage symptoms and reduce risks. Doctors often advise women with PCOS to aim for a normal and healthy body weight through diet and exercise as excess weight makes PCOS symptoms worse. Losing just 5-10% of your total body weight through lifestyle modifications can help restore normal menstrual cycles and reduce risks of other health issues. A nutritious diet low in sugar and refined carbs and high in lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables provides the body with nutrients needed to address underlying imbalances contributing to PCOS. Regular exercise not only aids weight loss but lowers stress levels, improves sleep and boosts mood in addition to managing symptoms. Yoga, walking, swimming and strength training are great options.
Medications for Treating PCOS Hormonal Imbalances
Beyond lifestyle changes, medication is often necessary to treat the hormonal aspects of PCOS. Birth control pills containing estrogen and progesterone are commonly prescribed as they regulate the menstrual cycle and help control excess androgen production. They lower risks of endometrial cancer in women with irregular periods too. While combined oral contraceptives help, some women may prefer progestin-only pills or other progestin-based options like the vaginal ring, patch or implant due to side effects. When fertility is desired, clomiphene citrate or letrozole may be used to induce ovulation. Metformin, a drug usually used for diabetes, offers additional benefits for PCOS by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing androgen production. Spironolactone treats hirsutism by blocking the effects of excess androgens on hair follicles and skin if oral contraceptives are insufficient. In some severe cases where quality of life is impacted, specialists may prescribe stronger anti-androgens like flutamide. Treatment involves finding the right medication or combination suited to individual needs and symptoms.
Addressing Underlying Insulin Resistance
As insulin resistance plays a key role in PCOS, lifestyle and dietary therapies aim to lower blood insulin and glucose levels. Metformin works in this manner as well by increasing the body’s sensitivity to its own insulin. Additional supplements may offer help. Inositol, a natural fiber similar to glucose, shows promise as an insulin sensitizer when taken at doses between 2-4 grams daily. It also seems to restore ovarian function. Supportive herbal remedies includes cinnamon and N-acetyl cysteine which exhibit insulin-like properties. Studies have shown these adjuncts help manage appetite, sugar cravings and reduce risk factors like excess abdominal fat when combined with a low glycemic meal plan and regular exercise. Addressing underlying insulin issues is vital for long-term management of PCOS.
Fertility Treatment Options
For couples struggling with infertility due to PCOS, fertility specialists offer assistive methods to support natural conception or undergo conception procedures when lifestyle modifications, medication and laparoscopic surgery fail to induce regular ovulation. Letrozole or clomiphene citrate may again be used with monitored timing of intercourse. Intrauterine insemination involves directly depositing sperm into the womb to aid fertilization. During in vitro fertilization (IVF), eggs are collected from ovaries, fertilized in a laboratory with sperm and then implanted in the uterus. IVF is highly effective but also expensive and physically demanding. Newer options becoming available include trigger shots to encourage multiple egg maturation and prevent cancellation of IVF cycles due to lack of follicular development as often seen in PCOS. Using medicine to precisely control ovarian stimulation gives infertile women more opportunities to achieve pregnancy.
Role of Surgery in Advanced PCOS
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure sometimes recommended for women with severe PCOS when other treatments have not provided adequate relief from troubling symptoms like excess hair growth, acne and irregular bleeding. During the laparoscopy, a small camera is inserted through tiny incisions to examine the ovaries and uterus. Cysts can be drained or removed from the ovaries and laser treatment applied to reduce their formation. The surgery also helps restore normal hormone balance and induces ovulation without relying on fertility medications in over 70% of cases. It can offer a more permanent solution compared to long-term drug use but involves a short recovery period. Few women may still require assistance to conceive even after laparoscopy due to underlying insulin resistance or obesity. Factors like obesity degree, medical history, symptom severity, fertility desire and treatment goals are weighed carefully before deciding whether laparoscopic ovarian drilling is appropriate.
Long term Monitoring and Management
Addressing PCOS is a lifelong process that requires patience and commitment from patients and healthcare providers alike. Once initial symptoms are controlled and regular cycles resume, maintenance usually involves continued lifestyle modification, oral contraceptives, supplements or medication under medical guidance. Monitoring of weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and reproductive health factors like ovulation needs to continue to prevent risks of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, uterine cancer and other issues rising from PCOS in the long-run. Open communication between women and their primary care doctor or gynecologist allows timely adjustments in therapy. Various treatment plans exist and may evolve as understanding of a complex condition like PCOS advances. With proper multi-disciplinary management, women can mitigate symptoms, improve quality of life and achieve pregnancy safely.
In summary, this article covered key treatments adopted for managing polycystic ovary syndrome from lifestyle changes to medications addressing hormonal issues and insulin resistance to fertility treatments and surgery in difficult cases. It emphasized the importance of long term monitoring and individualized comprehensive care for women affected by this prevalent condition. With multimodal therapies guided by medical professionals, PCOS symptoms can effectively be controlled and health risks reduced.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile
