Polycystic Ovary Syndromew Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Polycystic Ovary Syndromew - Essay Example In general, PCOS is characterized by absence of or irregular menstruation, hirsutism, anovulation, infertility, obesity, acne, metabolic disorders, insulin insensitivity and hyperinsulinemia, to name a few symptoms. The patient's ovaries in classical cases show the presence of multiple small cysts. The primary cause of this disorder is not known. However, three factors are known to play important roles in the development and progression of PCOS. These are hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia, and high levels of Luteinizing hormone (LH). PCOS is easily diagnosed in the clinical setting through history and physical examination. This is then accompanied by laboratory results of hormonal levels, for the sake of differential diagnoses with similar illnesses, such as congenital non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. Infertility related to PCOS is caused by anovulation. The high level of LH associated with PCOS is responsible for this anovulation. It causes increased production of androgens from the adrenal gland and the ovaries. These androgens cause typically masculine characteristics in the female and inhibit maturation of the ovum. Secondly, high levels of LH also inhibit maturation and release of dominant follicles (Hill, 2003). Young women and adolescent girls are the age group susceptible to contracting PCOS. The percentage of that age group who are diagnosed with PCOS is an astounding 5-10 percent. (Kidson, 1998) For women of child-bearing age, PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder. Statistics show that 4 to 6 percent of all women in America have hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation (Schroeder, April 2003). This prevalence increases sharply in women with chronic anovulation and hyperinsulinemia. This illness not only robs the affected patient of the ability to have children, but it also increases her susceptibility to other disorders, such as diabetes type 2 (DM type 2) and CVS diseases. The psychological part of it must also be considered. These patients commonly suffer from depression due to the inability to have children and the other symptoms associated with PCOS, such as hirsutism and androgenic alopecia. The risk factors for PCOS are increased levels of LH secretion due to hyperproduction of go nadotropin releasing hormone, hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism. A concern which must be addressed is the increasing cases of ovarian hyperstimulation, pregnancy loss, gestational diabetes and hypertension due to ovulation induction in these patients (Schroeder, April 2003). Since the actual cause of PCOS is not known, there is very little that can be done to prevent the disorder. However, it is important to screen for the disorder and other differential diagnoses of similar illnesses in all patients presenting with irregular menstruation, infertility and hirsutism. All identified cases should also be screened for risks of DM type 2, CVS conditions and the metabolic syndrome. The rise in the prevalence of PCOS and the fact that diabetes and CVS conditions are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in today's clinical setup, should make the contribution of PCOS to