Treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome

Unfortunately, there is no cure for PCOS because the cause is still unknown. Anyway, there are some treatment options that could be beneficial for the woman suffering from the PCOS symptoms! Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may benefit from simple counseling to help with healthy-eating choices and regular exercise.

Birth control pills
Birth control pills can regulate menstrual cycles, reduce male hormone levels, and help clear acne. They are perfect for women who don’t want to get pregnant. However, women should understand that the birth control pill does not cure PCOS. 

Diabetes Medications
Medications which are used to treat type 2 diabetes also help with PCOS symptoms. These medications will not cause a person to become diabetic.

Fertility Medications
The main fertility problem for women with PCOS is the lack of ovulation. Fortunately there are some medications which can be used to stimulate the ovary to ovulate. However, PCOS patients are at increased risk for multiple pregnancies when using these medications.

Medicine for increased hair growth
Spironolactone is a blood pressure medicine that has been shown to decrease the male hormone’s effect on hair.  Other non-medical treatments such as electrolysis or laser hair removal are effective in getting rid of the excess hair.

Surgery
If other methods failed to provide the relief, a surgery called ovarian drilling can be used to induce ovulation. In this procedure the doctor makes a very small incision above or below the navel, and inserts a small instrument which is used to puncture the ovary. This instrument has a small needle carrying an electric current to destroy a small portion of the ovary. This surgery can lower male hormone levels and help with the ovulation.
 
Maintaining a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is another way a women can manage PCOS. This can be done with a healthy PCOS diet and physical activity. A diet composed mainly of low-GI foods combined with regular exercise will also help to combat the effects of insulin resistance.

Complications if left untreated

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at the increased risk of:

• type 2 diabetes,
• high blood pressure,
• increased triglycerides,
• decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
• cardiovascular disease

Because PCOS disrupts the reproductive cycle and exposes the uterus to a constant supply of estrogen, women with PCOS are at risk of:

• abnormal uterine bleeding
• cancer of the uterine lining

During pregnancy, women with this disorder may be at increased risk of:

• gestational diabetes
• pregnancy-induced high blood pressure