Title |
Treatment options for polycystic ovary syndrome
|
---|---|
Published in |
International Journal of Women's Health, February 2011
|
DOI | 10.2147/ijwh.s11304 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Ahmed Badawy, Abubaker Elnashar |
Abstract |
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women. The clinical manifestation of PCOS varies from a mild menstrual disorder to severe disturbance of reproductive and metabolic functions. Management of women with PCOS depends on the symptoms. These could be ovulatory dysfunction-related infertility, menstrual disorders, or androgen-related symptoms. Weight loss improves the endocrine profile and increases the likelihood of ovulation and pregnancy. Normalization of menstrual cycles and ovulation could occur with modest weight loss as little as 5% of the initial weight. The treatment of obesity includes modifications in lifestyle (diet and exercise) and medical and surgical treatment. In PCOS, anovulation relates to low follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations and the arrest of antral follicle growth in the final stages of maturation. This can be treated with medications such as clomiphene citrate, tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, metformin, glucocorticoids, or gonadotropins or surgically by laparoscopic ovarian drilling. In vitro fertilization will remain the last option to achieve pregnancy when others fail. Chronic anovulation over a long period of time is also associated with an increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma, which should be seriously investigated and treated. There are androgenic symptoms that will vary from patient to patient, such as hirsutism, acne, and/or alopecia. These are troublesome presentations to the patients and require adequate treatment. Alternative medicine has been emerging as one of the commonly practiced medicines for different health problems, including PCOS. This review underlines the contribution to the treatment of different symptoms. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
India | 3 | <1% |
Australia | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Ukraine | 1 | <1% |
Egypt | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 529 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 97 | 18% |
Student > Master | 70 | 13% |
Student > Postgraduate | 46 | 9% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 40 | 7% |
Researcher | 38 | 7% |
Other | 89 | 17% |
Unknown | 157 | 29% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 165 | 31% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 47 | 9% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 41 | 8% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 38 | 7% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 34 | 6% |
Other | 49 | 9% |
Unknown | 163 | 30% |