Polycystic ovary syndrome!!

소개글

Polycystic ovary syndrome!!에 대한 보고서 자료입니다.

목차

Introduction
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth and obesity, though it can affect women in a variety of ways.
The exact cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is unknown, but the condition stems from a disruption in the monthly reproductive cycle. The name polycystic ovary syndrome comes from the appearance of the ovaries in some women with the disorder — large and studded with numerous cysts (polycystic).
Polycystic ovary syndrome affects about one in 10 women in the United States and is the leading cause of infertility in women. Early diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome can help reduce the risk of long-term complications, which include diabetes and heart disease.
Signs and symptoms
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome usually have at least several of the many signs and symptoms associated with PCOS, including:

Irregular or no menstruation. This is the most common characteristic. Irregular menstruation means having menstrual cycles that occur at intervals longer than 35 days or fewer than eight times a year. The condition may begin in adolescence with the onset of menstruation, or it may appear later after a weight gain.
Signs of excess androgen. Elevated levels of male hormones may result in physical signs, such as long, coarse hair on your face, chest, lower abdomen, back, upper arms or upper legs (hirsutism); acne; and male-pattern baldness (alopecia). However, not all women who have polycystic ovary syndrome have physical signs of androgen excess.
Enlarged ovaries with multiple cysts. Your doctor may detect ovarian cysts by ultrasound. However, you may have ovaries with multiple cysts but still not have polycystic ovary syndrome. And you may have PCOS but have ovaries that appear normal.
Infertility. Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common cause of female infertility in the United States.
Obesity. It's estimated that about half of women with polycystic ovary syndrome are obese.
Skin tags. These small, excess growths of skin that are usually found on your neck or in your armpit are common in women with PCOS.
Prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. The ability to use insulin effectively is impaired in PCOS and can result in high blood sugar levels and diabetes. Prediabetes is also called impaired glucose tolerance.
Acanthosis nigricans. This is the medical term for darkened, velvety skin on the nape of your neck, armpits, inner thighs, vulva or under your breasts.

Additionally, the following are more likely to occur in women with PCOS:

◦ High blood pressure
◦ High blood cholesterol
◦ Elevated levels of C-reactive protein, which may be associated with cardiovascular problems
◦ Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a liver disease
◦ Sleep apnea







Polycystic ovary syndrome is a disorder involving irregular menstrual periods and excess androgen levels. The ovaries develop cysts (above right) and may fail to release eggs.

Causes
The intricate process of a woman's reproductive cycle is regulated by fluctuating levels of hormones produced by the pituitary gland in your brain, including luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and by your ovaries.
The ovaries secrete the female hormones estrogen and progesterone and also produce some androgens, the so-called male hormones. Androgens include testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
In polycystic ovary syndrome, your body produces an excess of androgens, and your ratio of LH to FSH is often abnormally high. The process of ovaries releasing eggs (ovulation) occurs less frequently than normal (oligo-ovulation), or the ovaries don't release eggs at all (anovulation). In the absence of ovulation, the menstrual cycle is irregular or absent.
Doctors don't know the cause of polycystic ovary syndrome, but research suggests a link to excess insulin, the hormone produced in the pancreas that allows cells to use sugar (glucose), your body's primary energy supply. By several mechanisms, excess insulin is thought to boost androgen production by your ovaries. Studies also indicate that genetic factors may play a role in PCOS.
When to seek medical advice
Early diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome may help reduce your risk of long-term complications, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Talk with your doctor if you have irregular, scant or no menstrual periods, are overweight, and have acne or excess facial hair growth. Your doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in hormonal disorders (endocrinologist).
Screening and diagnosis
There's no specific test to definitively diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome. The diagnosis is one of exclusion, which means your doctor considers all of your signs and symptoms and then rules out other possible disorders.
Besides a complete physical examination, including a pelvic examination, other tests you may have include:

Blood tests. Your blood may be drawn for laboratory tests to measure levels of several hormones. These may include testosterone, DHEA sulfate, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17-hydroxy progesterone, prolactin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which triggers the release of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. Additional blood testing may include fasting glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Ultrasound. Your doctor may request a pelvic ultrasound to check your ovaries and the thickness of the lining of your uterus. Ultrasound exams are painless. While you relax on a bed or examining table, a wand-like device (transducer) is placed on your body or in your vagina (transvaginal ultrasound). It emits inaudible sound waves that are translated into images on a computer.






As part of the pelvic examination, your doctor will insert two gloved fingers inside your vagina. While simultaneously pressing down on your abdomen, he or she can examine your uterus, ovaries and other organs.


Complications
Having polycystic ovary syndrome puts you at increased risk of:

◦ Type 2 diabetes
◦ High blood pressure
◦ Increased triglycerides
◦ Decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol
◦ Cardiovascular disease
◦ Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of signs and symptoms that indicate a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Because PCOS disrupts the reproductive cycle and exposes the uterus to a constant supply of estrogen, women with PCOS are at risk of:

◦ Abnormal uterine bleeding
◦ Cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer)

Pregnancy concerns
You may need treatment with fertility medications to become pregnant if you have polycystic ovary syndrome. During pregnancy, you may be at increased risk of gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.
Treatment
Polycystic ovary syndrome treatment generally focuses on management of your individual main concerns, such as infertility, hirsutism, acne or obesity.
Long term, the most important aspect of treatment is managing cardiovascular risks, such as obesity, high blood cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure. To help guide ongoing treatment decisions, your doctor will likely want to see you for regular visits to perform a physical examination, measure your blood pressure and obtain fasting glucose and lipid levels.
You may benefit from counseling about healthy-eating choices and regular exercise. This is particularly important if you're overweight. Obesity makes insulin resistance worse. Weight loss can reduce both insulin and androgen levels, and may restore ovulation. Ask your doctor to recommend a weight-control program, and meet regularly with a dietitian.
Your doctor may prescribe one or more medications to help manage the symptoms and risks associated with PCOS.

본문내용

ydrate diet. However, a diet that calls for increased protein to compensate for decreased carbohydrates may spike your intake of saturated fats, elevating your blood cholesterol levels and increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease. Research hasn't demonstrated that a diet high in protein offers more benefit to women with PCOS than does a diet high in carbohydrates.
Choose complex carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide many important nutrients, so don't severely restrict them. Instead, choose complex carbohydrates, which are high in fiber. The more fiber in a food, the more slowly it's digested and the more slowly your blood sugar levels rise. High-fiber carbohydrates include whole-grain breads and cereals, whole-wheat pasta, bulgur, barley, brown rice and beans. Limit less healthy, simple carbohydrates such as soda, excess fruit juice, cake, candy, ice cream, pies, cookies and doughnuts.
Additional research may determine which specific dietary approach is best, but it's clear that losing weight by reducing total calorie intake benefits the overall health of women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Work with your doctor and registered dietitian to determine the best dietary plan for you.
Get your exercise
Exercise helps lower your blood sugar levels. For women with polycystic ovary syndrome, an increase in daily physical activity and participation in a regular exercise regimen are essential for treating or preventing insulin resistance and for helping weight-control efforts.

키워드

Polycystic ovary syndrome ,   Polycystic ovary syndrome