It is known that menstrual irregularities, which refer to irregular menstrual cycles, are affected by various triggers such as excessive emotional stress, adrenal and pituitary tumors, and hyperthyroidism. Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the representative endocrine diseases that cause menstrual irregularities, and it refers to a disease in which various clinical symptoms are expressed due to functional abnormalities of various organs such as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovarian hormones.
The main cause of polycystic ovary syndrome, which occurs in about 5 to 10% of women of childbearing age, is not known precisely, and it is known that the occurrence is affected by the complex action of several factors. Genetic factors such as family history, abnormalities of the endocrine system and hormones, insulin resistance, a diet focused on simple sugars and high fats, obesity, and metabolic syndrome are known as major triggers. Now, let’s take a closer look at the main symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as various information on treatment and prevention.
The main symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome
When polycystic ovary syndrome occurs, the main symptoms are amenorrhea without menstruation and irregular menstruation in which the menstrual cycle is delayed for several months. In addition, hyperandrogenemia occurs due to an increase in the male hormone androgen, which can lead to hirsutism, which causes a lot of hair on the body. And the increase in androgen levels changes the skin into an oily form, which can cause acne, seborrheic dermatitis, and male pattern hair loss through stimulation of the sebaceous glands.
If polycystic ovary syndrome persists, ovulation disorders may lead to a decrease in reproductive function, increasing the likelihood of leading to infertility and fertility. In addition, obesity increases insulin resistance, causes problems such as hyperinsulinemia, which can lead to complications of diabetes, and increases the risk of hypertension and coronary artery disease. And if the ovulation disorder continues and the symptoms get worse, the risk of developing diseases such as endometrial hyperplasia and developing cancer such as endometrial cancer increases. Therefore, if various symptoms such as weight gain, worsening of acne symptoms, and thickening of body hair continue at the same time as an irregular menstrual cycle continues, polycystic ovary syndrome may be suspected. It’s important.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Treatment and Prevention
1. Multiple tests and appropriate treatment
For polycystic ovary syndrome, an accurate diagnosis is made for chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenemia by performing a medical history check, blood tests, and hormone tests. In particular, if amenorrhea lasts for a long time, the risk of endometrial hyperplasia is high, so ultrasound examination is performed. If it is confirmed that the endometrium is thickened with these ultrasound examinations, a biopsy is performed to check for precancerous cells, a stage before cancer. And, depending on the diagnosis result, non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment are performed. Non-surgical treatment can be performed by improving lifestyle patterns to control weight, and at the same time, oral complex contraceptives and progesterone preparations can be administered to correct irregular menstrual cycles. etc. can be used. In addition, if symptoms continue to worsen despite these various treatments and there is concern about the occurrence of related complications, surgical treatment such as laparoscopic ovarian resection, laser vaporization, and electrocautery may be considered. Although polycystic ovary syndrome has been treated with these various methods, it is very important to continue to manage it even after treatment because polycystic ovary syndrome can easily recur.
2. Healthy Eating
As polycystic ovary syndrome is a major cause of obesity and metabolic syndrome, it is important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet and maintain an appropriate weight. It is known that even if only 2-5% of body weight is reduced, metabolism and reproductive function are remarkably improved. Therefore, it is important to eat a balanced diet of various foods rich in beneficial nutrients in the body and to eat a diet composed of adequate calories with less concern for weight gain. In addition, it is recommended to reduce the intake of carbonated drinks, various processed foods, white rice, flour, etc.
3. A regular and consistent exercise habit and sufficient sleep
In addition to a healthy diet, it is very important to maintain an appropriate weight and muscle mass through regular and regular exercise in preventing the occurrence of polycystic ovary syndrome. In particular, it is known that muscle exercise not only has an excellent advantage in weight control through fat burning, but also improves the flow of blood to the ovaries and uterus by raising the basal body temperature to help relieve symptoms.
In addition, lack of sleep disrupts hormones and causes ovulation problems, which worsens symptoms. Therefore, it can be said that it is one of the very important management habits to get enough sleep and rest by securing adequate sleep time.
