PCOS | Unspoken Health Problems for Women | Dr Tahir Yunus

What is PCOS, and how it creates serious health problems for women?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, which are male sex hormones. These hormones are usually present in women in small amounts. Thus, polycystic ovary syndrome describes the condition in which numerous small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) are formed in the ovaries that will cause other serious health problems for women. They appear like pearls connected to each other like long beads in ultrasound. Therefore, PCOS treatment with weight loss surgery is the best solution to avoid this syndrome.

What are ovaries?

The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands on both sides of the uterus. Their function is to produce and store eggs and make hormones. They also control your menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Moreover, the ovaries produce and release eggs in the female reproductive part at the mid-point of every menstrual cycle. Also, they have the female hormones estrogen, progesterone, and androgens. Hence, if they function abnormally, they cause health problems in women. Further, the brain controls the function of egg production and its development.

What is Syndrome?

The syndrome is a condition where a combination of medical heath problem shows a particular disease’s existence. The symptoms occur together and suggest the presence of one disease affecting different areas of the body. Thus, in PCOS, the disease occurs in the ovaries but affects the body’s normal function and may trigger certain other medical conditions. Mainly, women complain of obesity with PCOS in Pakistan, hormonal disturbance, mood swings, etc.

What happens in PCOS?

PCOS is a common problem in women 1 in 10 females complain about this disease. Unfortunately, many women are unaware of its occurrence until they visit a doctor. In PCOS, the women may not ovulate, and reports of high-level androgens and ultrasound reports show many small cysts in the ovaries. Other health problems include missed or irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth, Acne, infertility, and obesity. Moreover, women with PCOS are at risk for type 2 diabetes, high BP, heart problems, and endometrial cancer due to excessive weight gain.

Therefore, Calculation of BMI for PCOS Patients is important to know for the doctor for better diagnosis and treatment. Further, the type of treatment for PCOS depends upon the age and stage of life. For instance, is she planning a pregnancy any sooner, or has she just entered puberty?

So to conclude, there are a few common symptoms of PCOS.

• Irregular periods because ovaries do not release eggs regularly (ovulation)
• Excess androgen causes high levels of “male” hormones in the body, which causes excess facial or body hair.
• Weight gain is also a symptom in 80% of women suffering from PCOS.
• Difficulty in getting pregnant
• In Polycystic ovaries, ovaries enlarge and contain many fluid-filled sacs surrounding the eggs.
• Darkening of the skin in the form of patches on the neck, in the groin, and under the breasts.
• Male pattern baldness and hair on the scalp get thinner and may fall out.
• Due to male hormones, Acne makes the skin oilier than usual and causes breakouts in areas like the face, chest, and upper back.
• Heavy bleeding because the uterine lining builds up for longer, so the periods get more severe than usual.
• Headaches due to hormone changes can also trigger in some women.
• Hence, to avoid all these health problems, doctors recommend PCOS treatment with bariatric surgery.

What are the causes of PCOS?

 The exact cause of PCOS is not clear. However, many women with PCOS have insulin resistance. It means the body can’t use insulin well. As a result, insulin levels increase in the body and cause high androgen levels. Obesity can also increase insulin levels and make PCOS symptoms worse. Moreover, PCOS can be a genetic problem also, so it’s common for sisters, mothers, and daughters to have PCOS. 

• The doctors still know the exact cause of PCOS, but they are trying to discover the precise reason. But up till now, they have come up with the following grounds.
• Abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin. As insulin is a hormone that controls sugar levels in the body, many women with PCOS are resistant to the action of insulin in their bodies and produce higher levels of insulin. Therefore, increased production and activity of hormones like testosterone occurs. Also, obesity is yet another factor in an increased amount of production of insulin.
• Women with PCOS have increased levels of inflammation in their bodies. Being overweight can also contribute to inflammation. Studies have linked excess inflammation to higher androgen levels.
• Other factors include environmental effects like stress, improper diet, and heavy amounts of chemicals in processed and packaged food.

What are the treatments for PCOS?

The treatment of PCOS focuses on managing the things that concern you. Such as infertility, Acne, or obesity. Specific treatment might involve proper diet plans, lifestyle changes, medication, and weight loss surgery in PCOS.

 Lifestyle changes:

To begin the process, your healthcare provider may recommend weight loss through a diet plan and moderate exercise activities. However, even a modest weight reduction can do wonders in your condition. Because weight reduction increases the effect of medications recommended for PCOS, it may also help with infertility. Thus, staying active helps in controlling blood sugar and insulin, too. And exercising every day also helps in shedding some weight.

 Medications:

• To regulate the menstrual cycle, the health care provider might recommend:
• Birth control pills contain estrogen and progestin as they decrease androgen production and regulate estrogen. Thus, regulating hormones lowers cancer risk and corrects irregular bleeding patterns, excess hair growth, and Acne.
• Taking progestin every 1 to 2 months for 11-14 days can regulate periods.
• Help in ovulation to make you conceive for that anti-estrogen is suggested.
• To reduce excessive hair growth and Acne, a doctor might recommend Birth control pills as they decrease androgen production, which can cause excessive hair growth and Acne.
• Medications, including pills and topical creams or gels, are helpful for acne treatments.  

Weight Loss surgery:

 Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with PCOS. As discussed above, first-line treatments include changing lifestyles and taking medications. Few people also opt for laparoscopic ovarian drilling, but little attention is given to bariatric surgery as a trustable option. Thus, we will highlight weight loss surgery’s benefits in PCOS. According to a survey, bariatric surgery promotes significant weight loss within one year. Hence, surgery successfully starts the regression process of PCOS. Therefore, ALSA Pakistan recommends bariatric surgery to treat obese patients with PCOS. According to a report published on NCBI, bariatric surgery leads to a significant decrease in BMI for PCOS patients. Much peak losses occur approximately 12 months post-surgery.

Moreover, American qualified Dr. Tahir is the founding father of ALSA Pakistan is an experienced weight loss surgeon. He recently conducted a webinar and in that he shed light on PCOS in detail and also mentioned the benefits of weight loss surgery and gave fruitful information regarding this syndrome.

 Final Thoughts

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which women’s hormone levels are affected. Due to this abnormality, women with PCOS produce higher amounts of male hormones. Thus, the hormone imbalance causes the body to skip periods and makes it harder for them to conceive. Moreover, PCOS also causes hair growth on the face or body. And silently triggers long-term health problems for women like diabetes and heart disease. The treatment includes medication and weight loss surgery for PCOS. Therefore, visit ALSA Pakistan if you want a solution to cure this unspoken health problem. Our experienced team of doctors can help you eliminate this syndrome through weight loss surgery. They will also enlighten you about the benefits of weight loss surgery in PCOS. So, book your appointment now at ALSA Pakistan.