What is PCOS?

PCOS is an endocrine system disorder affecting women in their reproductive years.

Symptoms of PCOS

PCOS is a syndrome disease defined by a collection of signs and symptoms.

  • Irregular or missing menstrual periods
  • Infertility
  • Excess or unwanted body or facial hair growth
  • Thinning hair on the scalp
  • Weight problems, often including weight gain around the waist
  • Skin problems, including skin tags, darkening skin and acne

Causes of PCOS

  • Poor diet leading to deficiency in protein and micro nutrients like Folic acid, Vit D, Magnesium, Zinc etc
  • Stress causes hormones
  • Pollution – plasticizer BPA mimics endrogens in the body
  • Lack of exercise causes hormone imbalance, obesity
  • Obesity < — > PCOS
  • Genetic

Typical Endocrine Profile of a PCOS female

HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PCOS

There are several health risks associated with PCOS like

  • Type 2 diabetes
    • Infertility
    • High cholesterol
    • Elevated lipids
    • Sleep apnea
    • Liver disease
    • Abnormal uterine bleeding
    • Increased risk of endometrial cancer, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, heart attacks and miscarriage
    • High blood pressure
    • Obesity possibly leading to issues with low self-esteem and depression
    • Metabolic syndrome
    • Nonalcoholic fatty liver (steatohepatitis)

Treatment – history & new developments

  • Lifestyle modification is the first step which includes
    • Proper diet especially protein rich preferably plant protein and fruits/vegetables which are rich in micronutrients.
    • Exercise
    • Proper sleeping pattern
  • As most PCOS women also had insulin resistance, Metformin was initially tried and still widely used. It works partly but is not the solution.
  • Then myo-inositol 1-2 gm/day became popular in combination with d-Chiro-inositol. Some Pharma cos mislead with 40:1 ratio whereas D-chiro-inositol is not that important in curing PCOS.
  • Vitamin supplements like folic acid, Vitamin D etc were given with m-inositol which gave improvements but could not reverse PCOS in most cases.
  • Birth control pills to regulate menstruation
  • Androgen-blocking medications
  • Topical anti-hair-growth medications
  • Other excess hair treatments
  • Treatments for hair loss
  • Acne treatments
  • Removal of other skin problems

All above just treated symptoms or partially reversed BUT mostly did not reverse the PCOS completely.