PCOS and Fertility

PCOS and Fertility
By Louise Parker

Unfortunately, one of the most common side effects of living with PCOS is infertility. Since the ovaries are not able to function properly due to a lack of hormones, having consistent and regular periods are uncommon. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to get pregnant and most sufferers with PCOS struggle to fall pregnant without the help of various fertility medications. These medications come in both natural and drug forms and each have their own side effects. As a last resort, in vitro fertilization has been recommended if natural conception isn’t possible. The best thing a PCOS sufferer can do is to speak to their doctor about what fertility treatment is best for them.

One of the most popular drugs used for sufferers of PCOS is called clomiphene. This drug is often prescribed to women that haven’t had their periods for an extended length of time. Clomiphene, in addition to hormone therapy, has been successful in inducing menstruation for many PCOS sufferers so that pregnancy becomes possible. Studies have shown that between 70-90 percent of women who take the drug ovulate, with a pregnancy rate varying from 30-70 percent.

As with all drugs, there are side effects associated with clomiphene. Users have reported hot flashes, abdominal discomfort (already common in women with PCOS) and blurred vision.

Another popular treatment is hormone injections with hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). HCG can trigger ovulation in women who don’t produce enough of the hormone to trigger it themselves.

A final alternative is what is called gonadotropin therapy. This is also a form of hormone injection that can trick the body into ovulation. This treatment has the highest rate of pregnancy (60%), but 35% of those pregnancies have been shown to end in miscarriage. Also, with this hormone treatment, the likelihood of a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets or more) is much greater. A multiple pregnancy is considered high-risk for the mother and the babies.

There are natural alternatives to PCOS-induced infertility. While doctors may disagree on the effectiveness of these treatments, if you wish to keep your body as chemical-free as possible, you might want to take these methods into consideration.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of healing pain, stress and pretty much everything else with the use of thin, sharp needles. It is based on the idea that the body should have a balance in the energy that flows through it to remain healthy. If you are experiencing pain or sickness, than your body is not properly balanced. Acupuncture is used to realign the body back to health.

Homeopathic healing is another popular alternative. Trained Homeopaths look to treat the symptoms instead of the conditions since PCOS sufferers all tend to have their own unique individual symptoms. Before any remedies are given, a persons complete family history, their medical history and things like moods, likes, dislikes, sexual history and emotional state are taken into consideration.

The use of herbs as fertility drugs has been around since the beginning of time. Herbs such as liferoot, chasteberry, partridgeberry and red clover show incredible potential to help in fertility treatments.

No matter what path you choose, please know that no treatment is absolute and that the path to parenthood may be a tough one. Be patient and stay positive and you might hear the pitter-patter of little feet sooner rather than later.



Louise Parker has an interest in PCOS. For further information on PCOS please visit PCOS or PCOS Symptoms .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Parker

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Latest PCOS Treatment

Treating PCOS - Current Trends
by Dr Guin Van Niekerk

The introduction of the concept of evidence-based medicine caused a radical overhaul of the way that medicine was practised. No longer was it enough to prescribe treatments based on age-old traditions, or even on anecdotal evidence ("Jack Smith used such-and-such a remedy for his condition, and now he is cured!"). Instead, the scientific method gained prominence, with all old and new ideas being rigorously tested in massive clinical trials. Because of this, treatment modalities are constantly evolving, with trends being developed and either accepted or rejected by the medical community.

Nowhere is this more prominently illustrated than in the attempted development of a consistent treatment plan for polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS consists of a complex and highly variable collection of symptoms, which respond in an almost erratic way to individual treatment modalities. In other words, what works for a certain symptom in one person, may not work for that symptom in another, or may only work to a much lesser extent. Add this to the fact that endocrinologists and gynaecologists differ significantly in their management of PCOS, and you have a recipe for confusion.

However, a few consistently effective treatment strategies have emerged. The first of these targets individual symptoms as and when they occur, whereas the second approach attempts to address the underlying hormonal and metabolic disturbances. These include insulin resistance and its associated long-term risks of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as increased levels of luteinising hormone and consequent elevated free androgen levels. Although the first approach is more commonly used than the second, addressing the underlying problems often leads to a marked improvement in individual symptoms.

Women with PCOS tend to present to their doctors with specific problems. These include hirsutism (with male pattern hair distribution as well as male pattern hair loss), acne, menstrual irregularities, and most distressing of all, infertility. Acne and hirsutism are both due to excess androgens (such as testosterone) and are therefore usually treated by prescribing the combined oral contraceptive, or COC. Some COC's are more frequently used than others, as they contain progestins which are less androgenic than those in other COC's. One of the newer COC's (Yasmin), contains drosperinone, which is actually antiandrogenic.

Use of the COC is not without problems, though. It is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic disease (or clotting problems), including heart attacks and strokes, especially in those with underlying risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol abnormalities and diabetes (which are all very common in PCOS). The COC is not recommended for smokers, especially over the age of 35. Recent studies have shown a possible tendency for the COC to actually aggravate insulin resistance. And the COC is, by definition, not suitable for women who want to conceive. It may therefore be best to reserve the COC for younger women who don't smoke, and who have fewer risk factors, and less severe insulin resistance.

Other medications that have been used with some success in the management of hirsutism and acne include spironolactone, flutamide and cyproterone acetate. Eflornithine is a topical cream which is used for facial hirsutism - it inhibits hair growth. Metformin and the newer insulin sensitisers (such as Actos and Avandia) have also been successful in treating acne and hirsutism, probably also by decreasing androgen levels. It is important to be aware that most acne treatments will only show an improvement after two months, and hirsutism may take up to six months to respond to medication.

Both metformin and the COC have been used to treat menstrual irregularities; metformin having the added advantage of inducing ovulation in many women. Because of this it has been used for the treatment of infertility, with or without clomiphene, which also induces ovulation. Gonadotropins are also used to stimulate ovulation, but should be used with caution in PCOS sufferers, as there is an up to seven-fold increased risk of causing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which can be very serious.

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling also stimulates ovulation, and, like metformin, results in the lowering of circulating androgen levels. Metformin also appears to reduce the risk of early miscarriage as well as the risk of abnormalities in the foetus, and prevents the onset of gestational diabetes in a significant number of women who take it during pregnancy.
The reason for the success of metformin in treating most, if not all, the aspects of PCOS probably lies in its ability to target the underlying insulin resistance. This property also targets the more long-term problems associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is reduced. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels are lowered, in this way further reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Unfortunately metformin does not work equally effectively for everyone with PCOS. This is most likely due to the enormous variability of PCOS, especially with regard to the degree of insulin resistance experienced by each individual woman. It seems that, in general, metformin works best for those who have more severe insulin resistance. Having said this, however, it is very difficult to predict anyone's clinical response to this versatile drug, and it may be a good idea for every woman who has been diagnosed with PCOS to have a trial of treatment with metformin, both to assess its clinical effects as well as any potential side effects. Other newer insulin sensitisers may be used instead, but their full effects need to be studied further.
As you can see, treating PCOS is no easy task. Not only are the medications and their effects hugely complicated, they are also being used off code for the time being. In spite of the fact that PCOS is the most common hormonal condition affecting younger women today, there are currently no FDA approved medications for its treatment!

Fortunately there is one final management option that is open to everyone, and that is lifestyle modification. Weight loss works wonders for all the symptoms of PCOS, and the higher the starting body mass index, the more marked the response to weight loss. It's not the easiest option, as anyone with insulin resistance will tell you, but it's cheap and doesn't involve taking tablets every day, depending on what doctors prescribe for you.

As far as PCOS is concerned, lifestyle changes are very underrated. Stopping smoking, a low carb diet, and moderate regular exercise can make an enormous difference both for quality of life, and for long-term risk factors. It's one way in which sisters can do it for themselves!


About the Author
Dr. Guin Van Niekerk qualified as a medical doctor at the University of Cape Town in 1997. It was while working a few years later as a general practitioner that she developed a strong interest in insulin resistance and its associated conditions. She discovered that the concept of insulin resistance was largely unknown to the public. This led to her decision to write the book, "Why Fat Sticks - An Introduction To Insulin Resistance." For m

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What Is Endocrinology?

Endocrinology. It’s a multi-syllabic word that makes many Filipinos want to scratch their heads.

Philippines News - Manila Standard Today - Taking the mystery out of endocrinology - sept19_2006

More and more experts are in agreement now that PCOS is an endocrine and not a gynecological disorder but many of us still don't know what endocrinology is and how an endocrinologist can help us.

The endocrine system is a group of glands that make hormones, which are vital to the natural functions of the body - reproduction, metabolism and growth. An endocrinologist can help restore the normal balance of hormones in your body.

Lisa

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What Is PCOS?

PCOS - or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - is a disorder that affects an estimated 5 to 10% of women of child bearing age, and yet many women still do not understand what it is.Most women receive treatment from a doctor and/or a gynecologist when they believe they might have PCOS or have already been diagnosed, as these specialists can treat the individual symptoms, such as:- problems conceiving- adult acne- facial and body hair- thinning head hair (alopecia)- irregular, painful and/or heavy periods- dark, velvet-like patches around the base of the neck and in other body creases- unexplained weight-gainHowever, it is important to be aware of the underlying cause of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and seek the help of an endocrinologist.

What is PCOS?

If you think you may have PCOS or have just been diagnosed, you may find this article of interest.

Lisa

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PCOS Conference and Lifestyle

There continues to be growing evidence that “lifestyle” is a key factor for success in addressing medical conditions. PCOS - polycystic ovary syndrome - a metabolic disorder that can affect women to cause weight gain, excess facial hair and infertility issues - is just one of those medical conditions for which lifestyle can have a profound impact.The Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association (PCOSA) will host a lifestyle-focused conference for women with PCOS September 15-17 in Denver, Colorado. Leading the conference will be Rochelle Rice, a nationally-recognized speaker, author, and educator. Her work focuses on empowering women by connecting the body, the mind, and the heart through focus, movement, and breath.

Moving Mountains Through Strong Mind, Body and Spirit

I have mentioned the PCOSA conferencer already on this blog. It's taking place next week and this speaker - Rochelle Rice - looks like she will have something very interesting to offer.

Lisa

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PCOS and Obesity

But the conference was also told that some obesity was not caused by overeating.Women with polycystic ovary syndrome were prone to obesity because misbehaving hormones don't quash their appetites, new research by South Australian scientists suggested.Professor Robert Norman, from University of Adelaide's Research Centre for Reproductive Health, will tell the International Congress on Obesity he has identified hormones that behave strangely in women with the condition, keeping them perpetually hungry.

Call for fat taxes | The Courier-Mail

The International Conference on Obesity have covered the problem of obesity in PCOS sufferers...let's hope more medical professionals pay attention to this and look for solutions.

Lisa

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PCOS Petition 2

The PCOS Treatment and Awareness Petition plans to empower the PCOS Community to speak very openly about their struggles, symptoms, and trials to overcome the illness, to help other women and girls understand the syndrome and seek the proper resources to help them manage their lives with PCOS. It hopes to be a driving force in changing the way the public, media and government view PCOS education, treatment and coverage for medical procedures, as a result of PCOS. Robin Brooks Radel, a woman living with PCOS agrees, "I’d like woman to know that PCOS exists and it can cause infertility, high blood pressure, heart disease, increased risk for some cancers, excess facial hair, hair loss, and diabetes I’d like woman to be educated and to pursue good health care. I’d like insurance companies to know that this is an endocrine disorder and therefore prevent them from denying treatment. I’d like my children to understand this disease, as it seems there is a hereditary link. I’d like doctors to understand that PCOS is not a fertility disorder, it is an endocrine disorder, and it can be treated. Maybe someday, it can be cured. Until that day, awareness is the most powerful weapon."The online petition can be found at:http://www.petitiononline.com/pcosweb1/petition.html

Petition for PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is Quickly Gaining Signatures and Notice

If you haven't read about this petition yet please read this press release and head over to the petition site if you feel compelled to do so.

Lisa

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Acne Treatment Warning

Almost 90 per cent of patients prescribed Roaccutane (isotretinoin) pills show improvements to their skin, but by taking it they run a risk of developing high levels of triglycerides (fats) and cholesterol in the blood. Tests of liver function show the presence of enzymes that normally signal liver damage.

Top acne drug 'increases the risk of liver damage' - Health - Times Online

I thought this might be interesting (and important) to some of you, since many PCOS sufferers also have to deal with acne problems, and this research suggests that this particular drug could cause greater problems. The article goes on to say:

"The team points out that abnormalities in laboratory tests do not necessarily signify anything serious, but patients with large increases in triglyceride levels are, they say, at greater risk of future ill-health, which could include the set of symptoms known as the metabolic syndrome: obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. They plan further studies to examine whether Roaccutane patients are more prone to these symptoms."

To your good health,

Lisa

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UK PCOS Support and Conference

Verity Conference, Saturday 21 October 2006, Holiday Inn Bristol-FiltonCome along to Verity's next conference in Bristol on Saturday 21 October and hear talks from leading PCOS experts such as Professor Bill Ledger and Doctor Shirine Boardman. You will also have the chance to meet and talk with other women with PCOS. More details and online registration soon."That's the first meeting I have attended, I have found it very informative and will be looking forward to the next one""Only recently diagnosed with PCOS, I found today very informative and it's great to find out that am not on my own""Everyone was so open and honest about their problems, it's been great to feel that there are so many others who understand... a great day"

Verity - The Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome Self Help Group - Home

Verity is a fantastic oganisation. If you are in the UK and looking for PCOS support - check out the website.

Lisa

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Insulin Resistance hope?

Metabolic syndrome, an aging-associated group of disorders that includes insulin resistance, heart disease and high lipid levels, may be treatable thanks to a newly discovered role for a regulatory gene, according to a team of scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research.

Insulin Pathway Component Explains Insulin Resistance, Age-associated Metabolic Syndrome

This is a pretty dry press release which suggests that current research into insulin resistance could have hit a breakthrough. Don't get too excited - it's early days yet - but since insulin resistance plagues many of PCOS sufferers, it could be good news for the future.

To your good health,

Lisa

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PCOSA Founder Christine DeZarn

She had married the year before and was trying to get pregnant but couldn't. Her periods were irregular. She was packing on the pounds, and no matter what she did, they wouldn't go away. And suddenly hair was growing on her chin.

"These things were all happening at the same time, and I was very confused," Christine Gray DeZarn recalls. "I thought I was possessed or something."

Doctors didn't connect the problems and neither did she - until she participated in an online forum on fertility problems and came across a woman describing symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS."I immediately identified with everything she had," DeZarn says.

KRT Wire 08/04/2006 Hormone disorder can be difficult to diagnose, treat

This is an interesting article on PCOS and Christine DeZarn - the founder of the PCOSA. I recently had the good fortune to interview Christine on both of these subjects and it was enlightening. Even after all my years of researching the subject, she was still able to reveal information I didn't know or wasn't sure about.

If you would like access to the audio interview, please sign up for the PCOS Matters newsletter using the form in the top right hand corner of this blog or by visiting http://www.pcosmatters.com. You will be able to download an introduction to PCOS featuring Christine, and as well as hear other audio from medical, nutrition and natural health experts, before I direct you to the full interview with Christine which you can download and listen to free.
To Your Good Health,

Lisa x

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New Audio Report

There's a new audio report available on PCOS. Sign up for the PCOS Matters newsletter - either in the top right corner of this blog or by visiting http://www.pcosmatters.com - and you will be given directions on how to download it.

Lisa

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PCOS Risks of Heart Disease

A. High blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol are typical causes of heart disease. Other factors that increase a woman's risk include smoking, obesity, oral contraceptive use after age 35 and an endocrine disorder known as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Belleville News-Democrat | 08/01/2006 | What a woman should know about her heart

Unfortunately, one of the greatest risks of having PCOS, especially if you are overweight, is heart disease. This is partly due to hormonal reasons and partly due to weight-gain being mainly around the abdomen, like men.

Lisa

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Dermatological Effects of PCOS

If a woman has hirsutism, acne and irregular periods, polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that is often considered. This condition can be treated initially with oral contraceptives, but also with other oral medications, such as spironolactone and other anti-androgen medications. A blood test at a physician’s office can determine the cause of these symptoms and the best treatment option.

Newswise | A Balancing Act: Hormones and the Skin

If you have some of the symptoms of PCOS you may go rushing to a dermatologist to get help, but make sure you see a doctor too, as treating the underlying cause may produce better long term results.

Lisa

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Free PCOS Seminar in Illinois

Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI), one of the nation’s leading infertility treatment practices, and PCOStrategies, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, motivating and stimulating the millions of women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), today announced a joint free seminar that will take place on Saturday, August 5th from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Northwest Community Hospital. The informational session is designed to raise awareness about PCOS, otherwise known as Syndrome O, and the various ways to combat this condition and increase chances of a successful birth.

Fertility Centers of Illinois and PCOStrategies Seminar to Raise Awareness about PCOS

This seminar may be of interest to some of you in the Chicago/Illinois area.

Lisa x

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Exercise and Insulin Resistance

In an article entitled "Effects of Diet and Exercise on Insulin Resistance during Pregnancy, James F. Clapp III, MD, presents the evidence to support the role a low-glycemic diet and exercise can have in helping to minimize the increase in insulin resistance that tends to occur during pregnancy in Western societies.

Insulin Resistance During Pregnancy Poses Risks for Mother and Child

If you aren't already taking regular exercise, this article tells you why you should be. Exercise really is important for PCOS sufferers. If like me you hate sweating it out at the gym and would rather stick pins in your eyes, try something different or fun. Start by brisk walking just 10 minutes a day and then gradually increase the time you walk - include the whole family or take the dog (if you have one). Take up a fun hobby that won't leave you bored after a few weeks - try belly dancing, skating, cycling, line dancing, kick boxing (start off gently)......

Lisa x

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What is the Difference between Syndrome X and PCOS

Syndrome X, also called Metabolic Syndrome or Insulin Resistance Syndrome, is a combination of insulin resistance or diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and central obesity. One of the main differences between Syndrome X and PCOS is that both men and women can have Syndrome X, while men cannot have PCOS. Syndrome X involves a cluster of symptoms found within the larger scope of PCOS symptoms - it is this metabolic disorder that contributes most to heart disease. To be diagnosed with Syndrome X, one must have insulin resistance, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia. It is possible to have PCOS without having all of these symptoms, and some women with PCOS may not appear to have any of them.

PCOS: FAQs

In a previous post, Donna left a comment saying that she has many of the PCOS symptoms but her doctor has told her it Syndrome X not Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The above should clarify the difference for you. Basically you can have Syndrome X and PCOS, but having one does not necessarily mean having the other.

To your good health,

Lisa

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PCOS Symptoms and Cushings Syndrome

Women with the symptoms described in this story are being urged to check with their doctors whether they might have polycystic ovary syndrome.Society is quick to label those who carry excess kilos as lazy, junk food addicts.But Fiona Te Wierik is a hard-working nurse whose excess kilos are due to a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a silent epidemic now affecting one-in-eight Australian women between the ages of 12 and 50.

Today Tonight on Seven

This article is interesting because it looks at PCOS and its symptoms, but also shows that the common symptoms do not always mean a sufferer has Poycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Lisa x

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Chili Aids Weight-Loss for PCOS?

EATING chilli regularly could help in the fight against insulin resistance and obesity, according to new Australian research.In a comparison of bland versus chilli-laden meals, researchers from the University of Tasmania’s School of Human Life Sciences found that a few spoonfuls of chilli reduced the post meal surge in insulin, particularly in overweight people.People with resistance to the actions of insulin have an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as polycystic ovary syndrome, fatty liver and certain cancers.The study found that in overweight subjects, changes to a range of glucose metabolism measures following chilli meals were more marked than those seen in normal weight subjects.

The Border Mail - For weight loss, add a dash of chilli

It sounds quite bizarre, but if you are at a plateau and you like your chili, it might be worth a try. Certainly a good excuse to spice up your meals!

Lisa

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An Online Petition for PCOS Recognition

The PCOS Treatment and Awareness Petition plans to empower the PCOS Community to speak very openly about their struggles, symptoms, and trials to overcome the illness, to help other women and girls understand the syndrome and seek the proper resources to help them manage their lives with PCOS. It hopes to be a driving force in changing the way the public, media and government view PCOS education, treatment and coverage for medical procedures, as a result of PCOS.

Online Petition Hopes to Make PCOS a Known Acronym

You may be interested in signing this petition. More is explained in the article above.

The online petition can be found at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/pcosweb1/petition.html

Lisa x

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