The untold story of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Life with PCOS can be strenuous to a great extent but it is not the end of life

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifarious condition, affecting the women of procreative age (aged 15 to 44), and, in a nutshell, is illustrated by menstrual abnormalities, clinical or biochemical features of hyperandrogenism: hyperandrogenism is referred to as a physical state in which androgens (male hormones or testosterone) in women are produced at more than the average rate, leading to acne, baldness, enhanced facial and body hair, mood swings, ovulatory dysfunction/anovulation, and polycystic ovarian morphologic elements which include as many as 12 or more peripheral follicular cysts being discovered in the ovaries found from ultrasound. Currently, 6 to 10 percent of the entire world women population is affected by this menacing syndrome. However, supported by endocrinal characteristics, the incidence of PCOS is 3 percent and backed by Ultrasonic morphology, 22 percent is the prevalence rate and clinically it is 5 percent. Within the aforementioned age cluster, 2.2 to 26.7 percent of women have been diagnosed worldwide to be experiencing the PCOS. The World Health Organization in 2010 approximated that it concerned about 3.4 percent of women worldwide.

A study conducted by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) between January 2008 and March 2009, revealed that between 44 percent of women holding a body mass index of 27.10 kg/m2 and within the age bracket of 21 to 25 years was likely to be diagnosed with PCOS. Amongst them, 80 percent had menstrual-cycle irregularity, 28 percent had oligomenorrhoea, 18 percent experienced dysmenorrhea, almost 90 percent had nulliparity, 52 percent faced acnes, and 50 percent complained of hirsutism. Although a fair amount of research has been conducted in this regard, people are still perplexed regarding the symptoms and severity of these complications related to the PCOS. Some classify PCOS as a reproductive disorder; others grade it as an endocrinal malfunction. In general, PCOS is regarded as a heterogeneous disorder whose cause is uncertain and differs from case to case. Yet, it is broadly labeled as an endocrinal disorder with an unfavorable reproductive result and is also linked with cardio-metabolic abnormalities such as weakened glucose tolerance, Type-II Diabetes Mellitus, dyslipidemia, subclinical vascular disease and an incremented risk of other acute cardiovascular diseases.  

The rise in the number of cases of PCOS is somewhat unprecedented, with at least one in every three girls is presumed to be suffering from this medical problem. It has been speculated by several schools of thought that the frequency may have something to do with the food that we consume. While the exact cause depicts ambiguity, there is some evidence of genetic predisposition escalating the manifestation of PCOS in women. Although PCOS has garnered much attention in recent times; nonetheless it is still a relatively new phenomenon. In India, this episode is rather common. It is estimated that 1 out of every 10 women bear PCOS but keep on enduring it because of lack of awareness.  Also, in one particular investigation, it was concluded that up to 70 percent of women having PCOS remains undiagnosed which is a menacing aspect with regards to India’s female health status.

The mere assertion of the state of PCOS is that it influences the levels of hormonal secretions in a woman. Once a woman acquires it, losing body weight can become an alarming issue. Likewise, PCOS has been claimed to be successful in initiating obesity in women. This is because doctors assert that PCOS leads to a slowdown in the metabolism rate in the affected woman whereby her body mass index goes beyond the favorable range resulting in obesity. Moreover, the carriers of PCOS also experience an upsurge of insulin resistance making the body cells relatively more glucose intolerant and eventually attributing to Type II diabetes. An examination executed at BIRDEM hospital in 2014 revealed that 35 women with PCOS or Type II diabetes were more insulin resistant than the remaining 68 women, aged between 16 and 36 which implies that the degree of intolerance varies between age groups. Thus, it can be said that insulin resistance is a major pathophysiologic attribute of PCOS. The carriers may also display gestational diabetes at a greater velocity. Miscellaneous effects of such health disorders include inflated blood pressure, deterioration of cholesterol levels, enlarged LDH, TG but low HDL. These collectively are claimed by cardiologists to be more prone to manufacture cardiovascular diseases in women.

The major effect of PCOS that has surrounded controversy is the claim of infertility. PCOS reduces the fertility rates because the women do not ovulate each month due to an overproduction of estrogen by the ovaries. Since ovulation does not occur habitually, periods become jagged and augmented levels of hormones, such as testosterone, can distress ooctye quality and hamper ovulation. PCOS grants 80 percent of infertility cases.  The occurrence of infertility in women with PCOS fluctuates between 70 and 80 percent.

As a mechanism of handling the PCOS, weight control has been recurrently emphasized by specialists for women with PCOS, in order to maintain a non-sedentary lifestyle. Moderate exercise of at least 30 minutes is prescribed to be carried out at minimum thrice a week, no vigorous activity is needed; the key is consistency.  A sensible intake of complex carbohydrates, high protein and rational ingestion of healthy fats is prudent. Devouring ample amounts of omega-3 fats should also help women with PCOS. Moreover, bearers of PCOS have been recommended to load up on fibrous food (i.e. beans, lentils, broccoli etc), lean protein (i.e. tofu, fish, chicken), non-inflammatory food (i.e. tomatoes, spinach, kale etc) and to adopt a low glycemic diet to sustain ovulation. On the contrary, milk, red meat and deli meats and processed foods are to be highly avoided as it contains testosterone, carcinogenic substances and high amounts of sodium, respectively. Overall, organic food is the input to getting the diet right. Consumption of junk and sugary food and unbalanced eating schedules originates instability in glucose levels and a hormonal disparity leading to deposition of fat in the hips and abdomen notably. Due to these occurrences, Dr. Minu Pandey, a practicing gynecologist in Mumbai, expressed that the incidence of young girls diagnosed with PCOS has soared from 1 in 15 to nearly 1 in 3 young girls lately.

Before PCOS became came into the limelight, a lot of the women felt lonely, unfeminine, and unable to blend in with their contemporaries. A large amount of them experienced lack of motivation, tearfulness and powerlessness. A daily battle, women who have PCOS can experience trouble concentrating due to mood swings and have poor decision-making skills. These features can cause them to isolate from others.

Despite the fact that conceiving can be a struggle, it is surely possible, provided that the right treatment is received. If not that, there is always in vitro fertilization. Side by side, though hormonal imbalance is seen as a single basis, it is not. Genetics and surplus insulin can be accountable as well. This can be prevented via positive lifestyle changes. Lastly, PCOS is a perpetual condition. It never leaves the carrier, only diminishes its impacts. As a result, losing weight won’t demolish it; it undoubtedly improves reproductive activities. Therefore, greater awareness building regarding PCOS and the possible techniques to deal with this health problem is key to achieving the health sustainability within the economy, particular improving the health status of women. More often than not, this lack of awareness and traditional beliefs leave medical complications like PCOS being unattended which not only imposes adverse impacts at the individual level but also hampers the overall health indicators within the economy.

    The writer is a freelancer

 

The untold story of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Life with PCOS can be strenuous to a great extent but it is not the end of life

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifarious condition, affecting the women of procreative age (aged 15 to 44), and, in a nutshell, is illustrated by menstrual abnormalities, clinical or biochemical features of hyperandrogenism: hyperandrogenism is referred to as a physical state in which androgens (male hormones or testosterone) in women are produced at more than the average rate, leading to acne, baldness, enhanced facial and body hair, mood swings, ovulatory dysfunction/anovulation, and polycystic ovarian morphologic elements which include as many as 12 or more peripheral follicular cysts being discovered in the ovaries found from ultrasound. Currently, 6 to 10 percent of the entire world women population is affected by this menacing syndrome. However, supported by endocrinal characteristics, the incidence of PCOS is 3 percent and backed by Ultrasonic morphology, 22 percent is the prevalence rate and clinically it is 5 percent. Within the aforementioned age cluster, 2.2 to 26.7 percent of women have been diagnosed worldwide to be experiencing the PCOS. The World Health Organization in 2010 approximated that it concerned about 3.4 percent of women worldwide. A study conducted by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) between January 2008 and March 2009, revealed that between 44 percent of women holding a body mass index of 27.10 kg/m2 and within the age bracket of 21 to 25 years was likely to be diagnosed with PCOS. Amongst them, 80 percent had menstrual-cycle irregularity, 28 percent had oligomenorrhoea, 18 percent experienced dysmenorrhea, almost 90 percent had nulliparity, 52 percent faced acnes, and 50 percent complained of hirsutism. Although a fair amount of research has been conducted in this regard, people are still perplexed regarding the symptoms and severity of these complications related to the PCOS. Some classify PCOS as a reproductive disorder; others grade it as an endocrinal malfunction. In general, PCOS is regarded as a heterogeneous disorder whose cause is uncertain and differs from case to case. Yet, it is broadly labeled as an endocrinal disorder with an unfavorable reproductive result and is also linked with cardio-metabolic abnormalities such as weakened glucose tolerance, Type-II Diabetes Mellitus, dyslipidemia, subclinical vascular disease and an incremented risk of other acute cardiovascular diseases. The rise in the number of cases of PCOS is somewhat unprecedented, with at least one in every three girls is presumed to be suffering from this medical problem. It has been speculated by several schools of thought that the frequency may have something to do with the food that we consume. While the exact cause depicts ambiguity, there is some evidence of genetic predisposition escalating the manifestation of PCOS in women. Although PCOS has garnered much attention in recent times; nonetheless it is still a relatively new phenomenon. In India, this episode is rather common. It is estimated that 1 out of every 10 women bear PCOS but keep on enduring it because of lack of awareness. Also, in one particular investigation, it was concluded that up to 70 percent of women having PCOS remains undiagnosed which is a menacing aspect with regards to Indias female health status. The mere assertion of the state of PCOS is that it influences the levels of hormonal secretions in a woman. Once a woman acquires it, losing body weight can become an alarming issue. Likewise, PCOS has been claimed to be successful in initiating obesity in women. This is because doctors assert that PCOS leads to a slowdown in the metabolism rate in the affected woman whereby her body mass index goes beyond the favorable range resulting in obesity. Moreover, the carriers of PCOS also experience an upsurge of insulin resistance making the body cells relatively more glucose intolerant and eventually attributing to Type II diabetes. An examination executed at BIRDEM hospital in 2014 revealed that 35 women with PCOS or Type II diabetes were more insulin resistant than the remaining 68 women, aged between 16 and 36 which implies that the degree of intolerance varies between age groups. Thus, it can be said that insulin resistance is a major pathophysiologic attribute of PCOS. The carriers may also display gestational diabetes at a greater velocity. Miscellaneous effects of such health disorders include inflated blood pressure, deterioration of cholesterol levels, enlarged LDH, TG but low HDL. These collectively are claimed by cardiologists to be more prone to manufacture cardiovascular diseases in women. The major effect of PCOS that has surrounded controversy is the claim of infertility. PCOS reduces the fertility rates because the women do not ovulate each month due to an overproduction of estrogen by the ovaries. Since ovulation does not occur habitually, periods become jagged and augmented levels of hormones, such as testosterone, can distress ooctye quality and hamper ovulation. PCOS grants 80 percent of infertility cases. The occurrence of infertility in women with PCOS fluctuates between 70 and 80 percent. As a mechanism of handling the PCOS, weight control has been recurrently emphasized by specialists for women with PCOS, in order to maintain a non-sedentary lifestyle. Moderate exercise of at least 30 minutes is prescribed to be carried out at minimum thrice a week, no vigorous activity is needed; the key is consistency. A sensible intake of complex carbohydrates, high protein and rational ingestion of healthy fats is prudent. Devouring ample amounts of omega-3 fats should also help women with PCOS. Moreover, bearers of PCOS have been recommended to load up on fibrous food (i.e. beans, lentils, broccoli etc), lean protein (i.e. tofu, fish, chicken), non-inflammatory food (i.e. tomatoes, spinach, kale etc) and to adopt a low glycemic diet to sustain ovulation. On the contrary, milk, red meat and deli meats and processed foods are to be highly avoided as it contains testosterone, carcinogenic substances and high amounts of sodium, respectively. Overall, organic food is the input to getting the diet right. Consumption of junk and sugary food and unbalanced eating schedules originates instability in glucose levels and a hormonal disparity leading to deposition of fat in the hips and abdomen notably. Due to these occurrences, Dr. Minu Pandey, a practicing gynecologist in Mumbai, expressed that the incidence of young girls diagnosed with PCOS has soared from 1 in 15 to nearly 1 in 3 young girls lately. Before PCOS became came into the limelight, a lot of the women felt lonely, unfeminine, and unable to blend in with their contemporaries. A large amount of them experienced lack of motivation, tearfulness and powerlessness. A daily battle, women who have PCOS can experience trouble concentrating due to mood swings and have poor decision-making skills. These features can cause them to isolate from others. Despite the fact that conceiving can be a struggle, it is surely possible, provided that the right treatment is received. If not that, there is always in vitro fertilization. Side by side, though hormonal imbalance is seen as a single basis, it is not. Genetics and surplus insulin can be accountable as well. This can be prevented via positive lifestyle changes. Lastly, PCOS is a perpetual condition. It never leaves the carrier, only diminishes its impacts. As a result, losing weight wont demolish it; it undoubtedly improves reproductive activities. Therefore, greater awareness building regarding PCOS and the possible techniques to deal with this health problem is key to achieving the health sustainability within the economy, particular improving the health status of women. More often than not, this lack of awareness and traditional beliefs leave medical complications like PCOS being unattended which not only imposes adverse impacts at the individual level but also hampers the overall health indicators within the economy. The writer is a freelancer