Know Everything About Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) in Short
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common hormonal disorder, occurring in women in their reproductive life, about 4-10% of women have this disorder.
In PCOS, 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 troublesome and may not always affect fertility. When the cyst causes hormonal imbalance, a pattern of symptoms appear.
Polycystic ovaries have been associated with one or more factors. These include :
- Genetic predisposition
- Insulin resistance or Hyperinsulinism that is high levels of insulin in blood
- Hyperandrogenism – excess production of male hormones
- Abnormality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.
Polycystic ovaries present with wide variety of symptoms that may vary with each individual, These include :
- Multiple ovarian cysts on sonography
- Irregular or absent menses
- Infertility
- Acne
- Obesity or inability to lose weight
- Excessive body or facial hair – Hirsutism
- Thinning of the scalp hair
- Velvety hyperpigmented skin folds also known as acanthosis nigricans
- Multiple hormonal imbalance.
The treatment in polycystic ovaries is individualist, depending on the age at which the patient comes to you.