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Even if your doctor suspects PCOS, you MUST get it confirmed or ruled out.
Sufferers often don’t realise they have an increased risk of developing a
number of long term health risks.
It is important to have your general health monitored regularly by a doctor (GP,
Endocrinologist, Reproductive Endocrinologist or Ob/Gyn) who has experience
treating women with PCOS. These check ups should continue post menopause even
though many of the PCOS symptoms may lessen and/or disappear. Middle age is the
time when many of the associated long term health risks may begin appearing.
Infertility or sub fertility
Many women discover they have PCOS after failing to fall pregnant. Until then,
many PCOS women disregard their symptoms as ‘troublesome’ and not worthy of
treatment. Infertility or subfertility (reduced fertility) is a common problem
for women with PCOS. The sub or infertility is generally due to the hormonal
imbalances preventing regular ovulation. Ovulation may occur but it’s generally
infrequent and makes conception difficult. Ovulation inducing drugs such as
Clomiphene, Metrodin and Pergonyl may be prescribed and used by doctors to help
the body ovulate and achieve conception if the couple is unable to conceive
within 12 months by themselves.
Insulin Resistance/Type II Diabetes
It’s been suggested that 40% of
PCOS sufferers will be Type 2 diabetic by the time they are 44 years of age.
PCOS women have the power to prevent serious health complications, at an early
age through exercise and diet. A PCOS sufferer’s inability to process insulin
worsens with age and by menopause, almost half of PCOS women are diagnosed
Insulin Resistant or Type II Diabetic.
It is VITAL sufferers take steps at a much younger age to prevent these serious
health complications. Regular exercise (30 minutes worth, five times a week)
and sticking to a low Glycemic Index diet can help control insulin levels and
prevent them getting worse.
Insulin sensitising drugs such as Metformin/Rezulin can also help.
High Cholesterol Levels/Cardiovascular Disease
High levels of Testosterone can cause high levels of LDL which is commonly
known as “bad cholesterol”. It can also decrease your levels of HDL which is
the “good cholesterol”. This imbalance can increase your risk of cardiovascular
disease and your coronary risk ratio. Some US-based research has found that 40%
of PCOS women will experience cardiovascular disease by their mid-forties. But,
this study was done on a small group of Afro-American women who were extremely
obese women, and therefore not reflective of the general population of PCOS
women. There are a number of Australian studies currently underway to find out
what the figures are for Australian women.
Cancer of the Endometrium
As women with PCOS have infrequent ovulation they therefore have infrequent
menstruation. This irregular shedding of the uterus lining can increase the
chances of uterine lining (Endometrium) producing abnormal and cancerous cells.
A woman with PCOS needs to ensure that she sheds her lining at least every 3
months to reduce her risk of Endometrial cancer. Menstruation can be brought on
by Provera or by taking birth control pills.
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