Diagnosis
When a patient with polycystic ovary syndrome meets “polycystic”
1. I am not fat and I do not have acne, why am I suspected of having polycystic ovary syndrome?
Polycystic ovary syndrome can vary greatly from person to person. However, two of the following three conditions are sufficient to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome.
(i) Ovulation disorder: often manifested as scanty menstruation and amenorrhea.
(ii) Ultrasound suggestive of bilateral or unilateral ovarian polycystic state.
③ hyperandrogenemia or clinical hyperandrogenic manifestations: including masculine manifestations such as hirsutism and acne.
Other diseases that can also cause anovulation and hyperandrogenemia, such as neoplastic diseases and hyperadrenalism, should also be excluded before diagnosis.
Some patients may have metabolic abnormalities such as lipid, glucose, and insulin abnormalities, and some patients may experience significant weight gain and obesity. However, not every patient will have obesity or acne, and the absence of obesity or acne is not an indicator to rule out polycystic ovary syndrome.
2. I originally had my period, but in recent months I have not had my period, is it possible that I have polycystic ovary syndrome?
The formation of normal menstruation depends on the coordinated neuroendocrine response between the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-ovary-uterus, and a problem with any one of them can lead to missed periods. In polycystic ovary syndrome, the gonadal axis is dysfunctional and the ovaries locally produce too much androgen, which inhibits the growth and maturation of follicles and leads to ovulation disorders, and menstruation does not occur. In addition to polycystic ovary syndrome, there are many factors that can affect the menstrual flow, such as excessive dieting and weight loss leading to suppression of the gonadal axis, tumor interference with endocrine hormones, and damage to the uterine cavity from abortion and curettage. To find out the cause of amenorrhea, it is necessary to go to the hospital to have a checkup.
3.Why do I have polycystic ovary syndrome?
The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is not clear, genetic, nutritional, environmental and mental factors are all possible causes.
The risk of polycystic ovary syndrome is relatively increased if the mother is diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome or has scanty menstruation, the father has baldness, or there are diabetics in the family.
(ii) Obesity and high energy diet aggravate ovulation disorders and hyperandrogenemia.
③Environmental compounds such as bisphenol A and dioxin, which are present in disposable plastic cups and decoration floors, can interfere with the endocrine system and cause ovulation disorders or manifestations of insulin resistance.
④Prolonged depression, anxiety and stress can promote the progression of this disease.
Patient friends, do you have an unhealthy lifestyle or suffer from anxiety and tension and other adverse emotions?
4. Doctors have been repeatedly emphasizing lifestyle regulation. Is polycystic ovary syndrome related to certain specific lifestyle habits?
Yes, women with low exercise, sweet tooth, high fat and high energy diet, obesity and irregular lifestyle may have a higher chance of developing polycystic ovary syndrome.
5. What are the manifestations of this disease? What are the risks to me?
The clinical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome are diverse and vary from person to person, mainly in the following areas.
(1) Irregular menstruation: delayed menstruation from one week to several months, or even amenorrhea, or combined with dripping menstruation;
(2) More and more like a woman – androgen levels increase: there may be facial and back acne, some women have excessive hair around the lips, breasts, upper arms, thighs and midline areas;
③”Fat even when drinking water”: not eating much, but the waistline is getting thicker (≥2000px), weight grows year after year, it is difficult to lose weight;
④ Difficulty in getting pregnant: polycystic ovary syndrome will lead to non-ovulation, endometrial tolerance changes, lower conception rate than normal women, and a high rate of spontaneous abortion after pregnancy.
If you think “Oh, this disease is just bad menstruation, long hair and acne”, you are underestimating polycystic ovary syndrome, which not only affects fertility, but the disease continues to develop throughout life, and poor control can also complicate health problems such as depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and endometrial cancer. “Three feet of ice is not a day’s cold”, its impact on women’s health should not be taken lightly. But don’t be too afraid, an active and healthy lifestyle, weight control and early prevention and treatment can reduce its harmful effects.
6. Can the disease be cured or self-cured?
Like hypertension and diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome is a chronic disease that can only be controlled but not cured or self-healed. The clinical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome are diverse and vary from person to person. Some people have mild symptoms, for example, some patients have slightly irregular menstruation, but do not have complete ovulation and have a chance to get pregnant naturally. This is not a case of self-healing, but the impact of the disease is really not significant. In contrast, patients with significant hyperandrogenemia (such as acne, hirsutism, and oily skin) and obesity are at significantly higher risk for complications such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer.