Polycystic Ovaries

Here's a thought.  You're the world's leading woman-hater, sitting at your desk, designing a disease for women.  One that will really get them down - what will you do?  Spotty, hairy skin, greasy hair and extra weight that's difficult to shift?  Make it one of the main causes of infertility, which would mean that you could get diabetes, and you'd probably be as admired as a thunderstorm at an open-air wedding. Put all that together with a medical profession that might not take its symptoms seriously and you'd be extremely unpopular. 

If you can see yourself in this description you might be one of the 6% of women suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS. Symptoms vary and so does how bad they are, but many women soldier-on, coping with their condition - often since adolescence - because they haven't asked for help.  Or if they have they haven't received much sympathy. 

Have you spent a small fortune on lotions and potions to get rid of the spots, lank locks and facial hair?  And beaten every machine in the gym at its own game, but still can't shift the pounds?  Then the chances are you haven't actually been tackling the cause of the problem.

"Women produce a bit of testosterone and other male-like hormones (called androgens) in the same way that men produce a small amount of female hormones.  However in PCOS you have more testosterone, which plays havoc with the hormones that should be controlling your monthly cycles." The Science Bit

Periods are often irregular or completely missing so your fertility is affected.  The cascade process that normally causes your periods doesn't work properly which fools the body into thinking that the egg has been released when it hasn't.  The end result is that you don't have a period and there's little chance of pregnancy. Symptoms are improved if you can lose weight, but that in itself is very difficult.  The reasons for this aren't fully understood, but experts believe it's probably linked to something called insulin resistance.  

In people with insulin resistance, the level of insulin is much higher than it should be for a certain level of glucose (the body's fuel).  This is because the body simply doesn't respond properly so it tries to make more to compensate.  Doctors also think that this high level of insulin can affect the development of the egg in the ovary, making testosterone levels rise and so the syndrome goes on.

Professors Nadir Farid and Jennie Brand-Miller, together with Kate Marsh, are authors of a new book The Low GI Guide to Managing PCOS (see amazon.com).  The GI (glycaemic index) Diet is the latest eating trend and aims to reduce the amount of insulin the body produces by focusing on ‘good carbs' - those that release their energy slowly.  So, the authors say, following a low GI diet may significantly help to reduce the symptoms. This is important as there is no cure for PCOS and having it can make you more at risk from heart disease and diabetes.   

Some forms of the contraceptive pill have an anti-androgen effect that helps to reduce the oiliness of the skin and the texture of the excess body hair.  There are other drugs that have a similar effect but are not contraceptives.  Your doctor or specialist will be able to point you in the right direction about which one might suit you.  It can be a bit of trial and error so keep persisting.

While you're waiting for medication to control your hormones, cosmetic treatments are helpful.  Hair removal, good skin cleansing (without the need for expensive creams), a healthy diet and regular exercise are vital.   

For women suffering infertility, a specialist may prescribe the drug clomiphine.  It stimulates ovulation but only increases the fertility status to that of the average female population; i.e. as fertile as you would have been without PCOS. It is often unsuccessful in women who are very overweight and can only be used for up to 6 cycles.

 For more support and information see pcosupport.org.