PCOS - Optimal Hormone Solutions

What is PCOS?

PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a common hormonal disorder that affects women. About 1 in 10 women of childbearing age have PCOS.

Symptoms

Some common signs and symptoms of PCOS include:

• Irregular periods or no periods at all
• Infertility or trouble getting pregnant
• Increased facial and body hair growth, called hirsutism
• Severe acne
• Weight gain or trouble losing weight
• Thinning hair or female pattern baldness
• Darkening of skin, particularly along neck creases, groin, and underneath breasts

Causes

Doctors don't know the exact cause of PCOS. But these factors likely play a role:

• High levels of androgens, or "male" hormones. Women with PCOS often have too much testosterone.
• Insulin resistance. Many women with PCOS are resistant to the action of insulin, which can cause weight gain.

Treatment

There's no cure yet for PCOS. But symptoms can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication:

• Lose weight if overweight. Even a little weight loss can help regulate menstruation and improve PCOS symptoms.
• Birth control pills. Oral contraceptives can regulate periods and improve hirsutism and acne by lowering androgen levels.
• Fertility drugs. Medications like Clomiphene can stimulate ovulation to improve the chances of pregnancy.
• Anti-androgens. Spironolactone or flutamide blocks the effects of male hormones.
• Metformin. This medicine reduces insulin resistance, which decreases androgen production and improves menstrual cycles.

The knowledgeable physicians at Optimal Hormone Solutions use an integrative approach to effectively diagnose and treat PCOS through customized lifestyle, dietary and supplement plans based on each woman’s unique lab tests and symptoms. Their proven (/pcos-treatment/) have helped many patients finally get their PCOS under control, restore regular cycles, clear up troubling skin issues, normalize weight, and improve fertility.

Who gets PCOS?

PCOS most commonly affects:

• Women of childbearing age. It can start around the beginning of puberty. Symptoms often become apparent after age 15.
• Women with a family history of someone with PCOS. Genetics might play a role.

Diagnosis

There is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Doctors will take a full medical history, perform a physical exam, and run bloodwork to check various hormone levels like testosterone, prolactin, TSH etc. They will also check glucose tolerance and may order an ultrasound of the ovaries. Based on results from these assessments, they determine if PCOS is the underlying cause of symptoms.

Early PCOS diagnosis and proper ongoing treatment is crucial for protecting long-term health. Optimal Hormone Solutions specializes in advanced PCOS testing and personalized care plans to get patients feeling healthy again. (/appointment/) to take control over PCOS once and for all!