PCOS Treatment in Jacksonville, FL

PCOS

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic syndrome that describes an interacting group of symptoms in women, including excess androgens (male hormones), irregular periods, anovulation (not ovulating), obesity, glucose intolerance/insulin insensitivity, and cardiometabolic dysfunction (diabetes, high blood pressure, risks for heart disease). Diagnosis is by symptoms (acne and hirsutism suggest high androgen effect), irregular periods (suggest lack of ovulation), signs (obesity), and labs to check androgen levels and other sources of anovulation. To complete the diagnosis, ultrasounds generally demonstrate multiple, small cysts or follicles in the ovaries (polycystic ovaries).
The overall goals of therapy of women with PCOS include:

  • Symptomatic management of hirsutism, acne, and scalp hair-loss
  • Management of metabolic abnormalities and risk factors for both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  • Prevention of endometrial pathology (cancerous and pre-cancerous) that results from chronic anovulation and obesity.
  • Regulation of periods
  • Contraception
  • Ovulation induction for those pursuing pregnancy

Treatment for PCOS generally involves weight loss, a low-carbohydrate lifestyle, and birth control pills to reduce androgens and regulate periods. Other helpful measures may include an insulin-sensitizer such as Glucophage, and sometimes help with ovulation induction for those women pursuing pregnancy. Progesterone IUDs help regulate bleeding and reduce uterine cancer risk in women who cannot use birth control pills.

5 Things
We Want You
To Know
About Obesity

  • Obesity (BMI 30 and above) is the underlying risk for many gynecologic diseases not limited to endometrial (uterine) cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, and fibroids
  • Results from a mismatch between what we eat (food intake) and what we use (metabolism) resulting in too much storage of food as fat and not enough use of the stored fat for fuel
  • Flour and sugar are distinct culprits in obesity. They raise insulin levels which trigger storage of calories and prevent use of stored fat while triggering hunger for more flour and sugar.
  • Grueling exercise is unnecessary for weight loss and can backfire, causing increased hunger and overeating
  • Overeating and eating foods that create fast pleasure and dopamine (e.g. sugar and flour) is a common way to soothe uncomfortable emotions but leads to difficult problems like cravings, binging, and obesity.

5 Things
We Want You
To Know
About PCOS

  • Represents symptoms and physiologic change resulting from a complex interaction between excess androgens(male hormones), insulin resistance, obesity and consumption of sugar and flour)
  • Mechanisms of PCOS lead to disrupted ovulation, irregular periods, acne, hirsutism (male pattern hair growth), and eventual increaed risk for diabetes, uterine cancer, infertility, and ovarian cancer.
  • Treatment of PCOS starts with low sugar diet and weight loss with medical management also including birth control pills to decrease ovarian androgen production and metformin to increase insulin sensitivity.
  • For acne, treatment often includes a birth control pill and spironolactone plus retinoids and or other topical treatments or oral antibiotics and even isotretinoin (Accutane)
  • Ovulation may return with even a 5% reduction in weight

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