INTRODUCTION
In each menstrual cycle, follicles grow on the ovaries. Eggs develop within those follicles, one of which will reach maturity faster than the others and be released into the fallopian tubes. This is “ovulation”. The remaining follicles will degenerate.
In the case of polycystic ovaries, however, the ovaries are larger than normal, and there are a series of undeveloped follicles that appear in clumps, somewhat like a bunch of grapes. Polycystic ovaries are not especially troublesome and may not even affect your fertility.
However, when the cysts cause a hormonal imbalance, a pattern of symptoms may develop. This pattern of symptoms is called a syndrome. These symptoms are the difference between suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome and from polycystic ovaries.
How common in PCOS???
Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common hormonal disorder occurring in women during their reproductive years. It’s thought that 4% to 10% of all women have the disorder. However, since many women don’t know they have polycystic ovarian syndrome or some aspect of it, the actual number probably exceeds 10%. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the leading causes of infertility. Symptoms frequently start to show up soon after puberty.
Causes????
There is disagreement and uncertainty as to what causes polycystic ovarian disease. Polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome have been associated with one or more of these factors:
- Genetic predisposition.
- Insulin resistance or hyperinsulinism (high blood levels of insulin).
- Obesity.
- Hyperandrogenism (excessive production of male hormones).
- Abnormality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (organ/hormonal disorder).
- Environmental chemical pollution (hormonal disruptors)
- Food adulterantion (excitatory amino acids, for example)
- Chronic inflammation.
Some of these causal factors may also be consequences of polycystic ovary disease. In other words, we have an amazingly complex network of interacting variables, each of which influences the other. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is not a simple disease with a single cause.
The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility describes the possible causes of polycystic ovary syndrome in great detail.
Symptoms???
Polycystic ovarian syndrome presents a complex and baffling array of symptoms, consisting of some combination of the following symptoms that vary with each individual:
- Multiple ovarian cysts
- Irregular or absent menses
- Infertility
- Acne
- Obesity or inability to lose weight
- Excessive body or facial hair (hirsutism)
- Insulin resistance and possibly diabetes
- Thinning of scalp hair
- Velvety, hyperpigmented skin folds (acanthosis nigricans)
- High blood pressure
- Polycystic ovaries that are 2-5 times larger than healthy ovaries.
- Multiple hormone imbalances, commonly including:
- Androgens (testosterone)
- Cortisol
- Estrogens
- FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
- Insulin.
- LH (luteinizing hormone)
- progesterone
- Prolactin.
- Thyroid hormones.
- Impaired lung function.
- Sleep apnea.
- Fatty liver degeneration (NAFLD).
- Depression
Treatment ????
The first PCOS treatment for Infertility is usually the administration of medications to stimulate ovulation.
Clomiphene citrate (Clomid or Serophene)
An oral fertility drug used to stimulate ovulation, correct ovulation process, to improve egg production and to fix luteal phase deficiency. The drug is taken for five days early in the menstrual cycle. Clomid may become futile with a long use, for more than six cycles.
With some evidence, it has been stated that continual use of the drug, for twelve or more cycles, may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
Metformin (Glucophage)
It is an insulin-sensitizing agent used to induce ovulation. Common Metformin medications include, Generic Metformin Hcl, Glucophage, and Glucophage XR. If Clomid fails to ovulate, a combination of “Metformin” and “Clomid” is taken as a PCOS treatment drugs for infertility.
The medication ‘Metformin’ increases the fertility by improving the effectiveness of the insulin while decreasing the insulin levels and in turn androgen levels. Normalizing the androgen levels enhances the natural ovulation.
hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) (Profasi)
An intramuscular injection used in conjunction with Clomid. The effect of hCG on follicle is same as LH (luteinizing hormone). HCG stimulates the follicle to release its egg (ovulate) approximately 36 hours later.Ovulation may be blocked, when hCG is taken too early. Ovarian hyper stimulation and cyst formation can result with too much hCG usage.The other commonly used PCOS treatment drugs for infertility include hMG (human menopausal gonadotrophin), FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), GnRH (gonadotrophin releasing hormone), GnRHa (GnRH analogs) and Prolactin inhibition drugs.
PCOS Treatment For Infertility – Medical Procedures
IUI (intrauterine insemination)
A basic PCOS treatment for women with infertility problem is intrauterine insemination, also known as Artificial Insemination. It is a fast and painless medical procedure where the male partner’s sperm is introduced directly into the female’s uterus (intrauterine) for the purpose of conception.
The procedure is usually done in conjunction with the ovarian stimulation drugs because regular menstrual cycle and healthy ovulation makes conception very successful.
IVF (in-vitro fertilization)
A simpler, safer and more successful PCOS treatment option to induce ovulation in infertile women is in vitro fertilization. The procedure involves the removal of eggs from female partner’s body and fertilizing them with the sperm of male partner.
The embryo (fertilized egg) is then introduced into the uterus (womb). Ovarian stimulation drugs (hCG, hMG, FSH or progesterone) are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce fertilizable oocytes (eggs).GIFT (Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer), ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) are the medical procedures of PCOS treatment for infertile women.The success rate of PCOS treatment options to induce ovulation depends on the age of the woman, the type of ovarian stimulation medication, and other factors that contribute to infertility in the woman.
Yoga asans that help PCOS???
Down the years, it has been found that Yoga is the only recourse left to PCOD / PCOS sufferers. Yoga is a holistic science and art of living. This is because routines Yoga consisting of asanas (poses), pranayamas (breathing techniques) and kriyas (cleansing exercises) prescribed in Yoga help tone up the whole system. There are certain fixed Yoga asanas (poses) like the sitting, standing and supine poses that haven proven to greatly help PCOD / PCOS patients. In general, the Yoga program for PCOD / PCOS is as follows:
- A series of Yoga asanas (poses). While there is no exact pose or exercise that is known to help heal PCOD / PCOS, experience tells us that some of the poses – if done regularly – sitting, standing and lying on the back, over time yield the desired results. But, you should make sure to avoid all the inverted poses.
- Practice lots of Pranayamas (Breathing Exercises) in a slow, unhurried, relaxed rhythm. You may breathe at your own slow pace, or inhale and exhale to the count of 3 or 4. But do this very slowly and avoid straining or putting pressure on your lungs. The recommended pranayamas (breathing exercises) for PCOD / PCOS women are Mild Kapalabhatti (Skull Cleansing), Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing) and Ujjayi (Ocean Breath).
- You should also practise Nispanda Bhava (Unmoving Observation) and Shavasana (Corpse pose) 2 – 3 times every day. These will definitely help since PCOD / PCOS victims are, by and large, tense and stressed out. Subsequently, they need plenty of relaxation.
- Finally, let your diet be Yogic and Sattvic. This essentially means pure and predominantly vegetarian, with lots of seasonal fruits, sprouts, fresh salads and dried fruits. Steer clear of milk and milk products, particularly cheeses and butter, all confectionery products, fatty, fried and spicy foods, cigarettes and alcohol
- Likewise, avoid stress and tension, so try and avoid all stressful situations. Even if difficult, you will find that taking the trouble and making a few short term sacrifices will benefit you enormously in the long run.
History, Medicine, Personal, Society, admin, management | drlokku | January 12, 2010 | 
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