Polycystic Ovarian Disease Essay

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder of the endocrine system that affects women. It is primarily characterized by hyperandrogenic activity, oligoovulation, and polycystic ovaries. PCOS is one of the most common endocrinopathies, affecting 6-10% of women. A woman with polycystic ovaries can develop PCOS over the time, and the disease has a strong familial link (Balen, 1999).

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a common endocrine disorder that can affect many women. It is also “an incurable disorder that affects 1 in 10 women and over 50% do not know they have it” (PCOS Awareness Association, 2014). An ultrasound exam can reveal that women with PCOS have a collection of follicles on enlarged ovaries. The particular cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is unknown. It could be connected to long-term complications; therefore, doctors recommend weight loss to reduce this risk. Also, early diagnosis and treatment can have an impact on deciphering if a woman will have long-term complications. Such complications include type 2

The two most common are Cushing Syndrome and Amenorrhea. “Cushing syndrome occurs when your body is expose to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a long time.” (Mayo Staff Clinic, 2016, p.1) There are several symptoms that Cushing Syndrome shares with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Some of the symptoms are: weight gain, acne, hirsutism and/or irregular or absent menstrual periods. Evidently, the two diseases share similar symptoms. Another disease that shares similarities with PCOS is Amenorrhea. It is when one or more menstrual cycles are missed or the absence of menstruations. Some of the symptoms are: hair loss, excess facial hair and acne. Amenorrhea, also,

In this research paper I will attempt to discuss the causes, symptoms and signs of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, as well as how it is diagnosed and treated. As someone who is suffering from this disease, I found my research to be very informative and educational, raising awareness for my own understanding, and it is my intention to ensure that this same awareness is translated in my research paper.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal disorder which effects around five million women of reproductive age in the United States (activebeat.co). The ovaries and adrenal glands excrete abnormally high levels of male hormones which prevents the regular release of an egg, causing many fluid filled sacs, or cysts, to form on the ovaries. Several types of cysts can be found on the ovaries of someone diagnosed with PCOS, the most common being those developed during the menstrual cycle, functional cysts. Follicular cysts are a subcategory of functional cysts formed by the overgrown follicle resulting from an unreleased egg. When a follicle ruptures following the release of an egg, the follicle may reseal and cause fluid buildup, resulting in a corpus luteum cyst; these cysts may enlarge considerably, causing pain, bleeding, or twisting of the ovary (PCOS Awareness Association). Some cysts resolve themselves in one to three months while others grow to be painfully large and require surgery to remove.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately seven to eight percent of women of childbearing age. While the cause of PCOS is still unknown, it is believed to be a genetic disorder. Often a mother or sister of a woman affected will exhibit symptoms similar to PCOS. Due to the change in the levels of estrogen and progesterone, during ovulation mature eggs are not released which begin to form very small cyst within or on the ovary. These cysts cause infertility. Women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome can overcome infertility through weight loss, laparoscopy (ovarian drilling), medicinal treatment or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Increased androgen hormone levels within the body can negatively affect the normal ovulation process and cause fluid-filled cysts to form on the ovaries. PCOS prevents ovarian egg release during the menstrual cycle, which causes infertility in women with this condition. Additional symptoms of PCOS include pelvic pain, acne, oily skin, hair loss or excessive hair growth on the body or face. Currently, there is no cure for PCOS but hormone therapy can help regulate your menstrual cycle or clear up your skin.

“According to Mayo Clinic Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine system disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Women who have PCOS may have enlarged ovaries that contain small collections of fluid located in each ovary that can be seen during an ultrasound exam” (Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)). PCOS is characterized by a few symptoms including but not limited to a fluctuating menstrual cycle, acne and excessive weight just to name a few. Many women who are diagnosed with this disorder often find out in their adolescent years, which is when the fluctuating menstruation cycles usually start. Right now, there is no known reason of how PCOS develops or what causes it. The best way to control PCOS and keep symptoms minimal

Polycystic Ovarian syndrome was first characterized in the 1930’s and was called Stein Leventhal syndrome. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos) starts with the appearance of many painless cysts on the ovaries. In females with polycystic ovarian syndrome the ovaries are larger than that of a non polycystic ovarian syndrome female. Pcos has various signs and symptoms which all come from an imbalance of certain hormones affecting the female reproductive system. Doctors have done various tests and studies on polycystic ovarian syndrome some say that the syndrome comes from hormonal imbalances where as some state that this disorder comes from certain genes within the family tree, as well as environmental factors. Thus far there are no direct causes; the syndrome itself has various hormones that come into play.

The health care provider will also conduct a complete physical exam, The health care provider will do a physical exam and look for extra hair growth, acne, and other signs of high levels of the hormone androgen. He or she also will take the patients blood pressure, measure the waist, and calculate the body mass index, a measure of the patients body fat based on their height and weight. The doctor will also take blood samples to check the levels of androgen and sugar in the patients blood, and do a pelvic exam and or pelvic ultrasound. During the pelvic exam, the health care provider will insert two fingers into the females vagina and press on her belly to feel for cysts on her ovaries. To help see cysts in her ovaries, he or she might recommend an ultrasound, a test that uses sound waves to take a picture of your pelvic area.” (Nihgov,

I chose to write about PCOS because I myself suffer from this disease. PCOS is short for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS is a type of disease where your ovaries fill up with follicles filled with fluid (cyst). It causes mainly infertility and type 2 diabetes. This disease is more common in women who are in the reproductive stage. Not only can it cause the infertility and type 2 diabetes, but it can also cause an irregular menstrual cycle and can cause your body to produce more of a male hormone called androgen. Some other things it may cause is depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high blood sugar and many other health problems. The cause of this disease has not been yet identified, but it is said one of the ways could be

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine condition arising from the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis that presents in women of reproductive ages due to factors such as obesity, excessive insulin production and genetics. This condition often present with irregular periods, excess androgen production and polycystic ovaries (enlarged ovaries that contain small amounts of fluid). Due to the increased in androgen production physical changes such as acne, excessive body and facial hair (Hirsutism) baldness, obesity and ovulation problems occurs (Legro, Arslanian, Ehrmann, Hoeger, Murad, Pasquali, & Welt, 2013). Also with PCOS there is an abnormal increase in production of insulin, which leads to even greater production of androgen (Legro

Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS) is an ovulation disorder and infertility that occurs in many women. Polycystic ovaries syndrome dates back to 1845 where it was described in a French manuscript as being "changes in the ovaries". It was called "sclerocystic". Polycystic ovaries syndrome is a problem that occurs in with the ovaries. A "polycystic ovary is characterized as being a tough, thickened, shiny white covering overlying a layer of many small cysts just under the ovarian surface." (Thatcher, 10). That was the description that was found in the French manuscript and is still being used to this day for doctors to define polycystic ovaries. A wedge resection in

There is one dream that every little girl has when growing up, that is becoming a mother; to love and watch her children grow. No one ever dreams of that not happening to them or being part of that group being label as infertile. It happens to millions of women living in the United States every day. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the most common endocrine disease that affects women of reproductive age, which is typically puberty to menopause. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome does not only affect a woman’s ovaries and chances of conceiving, but it affects the whole endocrine system in the body. It can cause Excess Androgen Production, Insulin Resistant, Obesity, Hirsute and Cardiovascular problems.

Risk Factors/Pathogenesis: The pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome is not known, and potential etiologies are explored in a recent review (8). PCOS is currently identified as a “complex multi-genetic disorder”. It has a strong genetic component as evidenced by familial