Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by mild obesity, irregular menses or amenorrhea, and signs of androgen excess (eg, hirsutism, acne). Most patients have multiple cysts in the ovaries. There is different types of PCOS. Diagnosis is by pregnancy testing, hormone measurement, and imaging to exclude a virilizing tumor. Treatment is symptomatic.
The 4 Types Of PCOS
This section will discuss the different types of PCOS and the type that you may have. Insulin-resistant PCOS, inflammatory PCOS, hidden-cause PCOS, and pill-induced PCOS are the four different subtypes of the condition.
1- Insulin-resistant PCOS
The most typical form of PCOS is this one. Trans fat, sugar, pollution, and smoking all contribute to this kind of PCOS. In this, elevated insulin levels stop ovulation and cause the ovaries to start producing testosterone.
If your doctor has determined that you have borderline diabetes and your glucose tolerance test results were abnormal. If you are overweight and have elevated insulin levels, you may get PCOD due to insulin resistance.
QUIT SUGAR, PLEASE! Simply avoiding sugar should be your first step. A small quantity of sugar is beneficial, but excessive sugar consumption increases the risk of developing insulin resistance. You can use inositol to prevent PCOS and insulin resistance. As this variety of PCOS is a slow-moving condition, it takes roughly six to nine months to recover.
2- Pill-induced PCOS
The second most typical kind of PCOS is this one. It develops as a result of birth control drugs that prevent ovulation. Most women experience these side effects briefly before returning to normal ovulation after the pill’s influence wears off. But even when the effects of the tablets wear off, some women do not start ovulating again for months or even years. Women should see their doctor at that time.
If you had regular, healthy periods before to taking the tablets, PCOS may have been brought on by the drugs. Alternatively, if your blood test results show elevated amounts of LH, this could also be a symptom.
3- Inflammatory PCOS
Ovulation is blocked, hormones become out of balance, and androgens are created due to inflammation in PCOS. Stress, pollutants in the environment, and inflammatory foods like gluten are the main causes of inflammation.
If your blood tests reveal that you are vitamin D deficient, that your blood count is abnormal, or that you have elevated thyroid levels along with symptoms like headaches, infections, or skin allergies, you may be suffering from inflammatory PCOS.
A TIP: AVOID STRESS! Stop eating foods that cause inflammation, such as dairy, sugar, or wheat. Start taking magnesium supplements, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Since improvement is a lengthy process, it usually takes nine months.
4- Hidden PCOS
This is a simpler form of PCOS, once the cause is addressed then it takes about three to four months to get resolved. Causes of Hidden PCOS: Thyroid disease, deficiency of iodine (ovaries need iodine), vegetarian diet ( it makes you zinc deficient and the ovaries need zinc) and artificial sweeteners.
If you are already done with numerous natural treatments for PCOS and nothing seems like working then consult the doctor and gather more information about it
Symptoms & treatment of all types of PCOS
Irregular bleeding:
The first-line therapy for menstrual regulation is a combination of weight loss and combined estrogen/progestin oral contraceptives. Combined oral contraceptives contain progesterone to stabilize the uterine lining, which restores normal cycles.
Hirsutism:
Excess male-pattern hair growth can be suppressed 2 ways:
- OCPs will lower testosterone production by suppressing LH stimulation of the ovarian follicle theca cells. OCPs will also increase SHBG, thus decreasing free testosterone levels.
- Spironolactone suppresses hair follicle 5-α reductase enzyme conversion of androstenedione and testosterone to the more potent dihydrotestosterone.
Infertility:
If she desires pregnancy, ovulation induction can be achieved through clomiphene citrate (Clomid) or human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG). Metformin, a hypoglycemic agent that increases insulin sensitivity, can enhance the likelihood of ovulation both with and without clomiphene.
Article writer
This article was written by Hashem Khdour, 6th year medical student and the founder of Medicogenic medicine learning & health website
Menstrual cycle physiology:
