Like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a recently recognized female disease that struggles to be properly managed. Gynecologist Paula Celada sheds light on this little-known pathology.
- PCOS affects 1 in 10 women worldwide.
- PCOS is a hormonal dysfunction.
What impact of PCOS on fertility?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive disorder, affecting 8-13% of women of childbearing age. This disease can cause infertility by anovulation for 70% of patients.
According to Dr. Paula Celada, French patient gynecologist at IVI Valence, “Women with PCOS are more likely to have a miscarriage and experience complications during their pregnancy. Beyond informing them correctly before a possible pregnancy, it is essential, once it is obtained, to properly inform them to follow in order to minimize the risks”. In the most complicated cases, the use of In Vitro Fertilization coupled with drug treatment allows women with this syndrome to have a child.
How to detect PCOS?
PCOS is mainly manifested by the following symptoms:
– irregular periods or absence of periods;
– excess of androgens which manifests itself in particular by excessive hair growth and progressive hair loss;
– obesity.
To reveal polycystic ovaries, an ultrasound must be done. “Early diagnosis of PCOS is essential to be able to treat symptoms, improve a woman’s quality of life and identify fertility problems as well as, in the longer term, to take into account the metabolic, cardiovascular and psychological aspects of the disease” , emphasizes Dr. Paula Celada.
How to treat PCOS?
There is no treatment yet to cure PCOS. Nevertheless, Dr. Celada provides us with advice on how to live with the disease: practice regular physical exercise; opt for drug monitoring, adopt a suitable diet and lose weight in the event of obesity. “A loss of body weight of about 5% can improve endocrine levels and regulate menstrual cycles through lower androgen levels. This weight loss helps to increase the rate of ovulation and can thus improve the rate pregnancy of 5 to 10%”, says the gynecologist.
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