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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Analysis

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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal disorder which effects around five million women of reproductive age in the United States (Lockheart, 2017). 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 …show more content…

Irregular periods, pelvic pain, infertility, excess sebum production, acne, patches of thickened skin, headaches, fatigue, thinning hair on the head, and excess hair growth on the face, chest, thighs, and stomach are associated with PCOS, and these symptoms are generally more severe in obese women (“Polycystic Ovary Syndrome,” n.d.). If a cyst reaches a large size, it may burst, undergo torsion, a twisting of the cyst around its blood supply, cause bleeding, bloating, or pain during bowel movements and sexual …show more content…

If the answers to the medical history indicate a likelihood of PCOS, the doctor will then conduct a physical exam and look for signs of insulin resistance, excessive body hair, and acne. If these findings are consistent with PCOS symptoms, a pelvic exam may be ordered in order to attempt to locate any abnormalities. The next step in making a diagnosis is testing the blood for high androgen levels, and finally, a transvaginal ultrasound is conducted (“Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: PCOS,”

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