Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Comprehensive Overview and Management Strategies
December 2018
TLDR PCOS is a common hormonal disorder with symptoms like irregular periods and excess hair growth, managed with lifestyle changes and medications.
The document from December 21, 2018, provides a comprehensive overview of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), detailing its symptoms, diagnostic criteria, prevalence, and management strategies. PCOS is characterized by androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries, with a prevalence between 6.5% and 8% according to the NIH criteria. Symptoms include menstrual abnormalities, hirsutism (with a Ferriman-Gallwey score greater than 8 indicating its presence), acne, female pattern hair loss, and fertility concerns. Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation and exclusion of other conditions, with no single laboratory test being definitive. Management includes combined oral contraceptives for menstrual irregularities and hyperandrogenism, with clomiphene citrate as a first-line fertility treatment. Women with PCOS face increased risks of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and long-term conditions such as diabetes and endometrial cancer. Lifestyle modifications, metformin, and careful consideration of contraceptive methods are recommended, especially for those with additional risk factors like smoking and obesity. The document also emphasizes the importance of preconception health optimization and early fertility management assessment.
