Approximately 10% of childbearing-aged women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). While onset may happen during puberty, most women don’t find out they have PCOS until they have difficulty conceiving. To find out if you have PCOS or to discover treatment options, call or make an appointment online today with Dr. Padmaja Sharma at Fremont OB/GYN in Fremont, California.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when either your ovaries or adrenal glands produce more male hormones than usual. The hormonal imbalance associated with PCOS causes cysts to grow on your ovaries. These fluid-filled sacs interfere with egg development and release during ovulation.
Other health problems linked to PCOS include:
Symptoms associated with PCOS include:
To diagnose you with PCOS, Dr. Sharma takes an individualized approach that includes an examination of your reproductive organs for abnormalities. She does this through a comprehensive pelvic exam, an ultrasound, and hormonal blood tests.
There are medications available to help treat PCOS. These include birth control pills and progestin therapy. If you’re trying to get pregnant, Dr. Sharma has prescriptions to help with that as well, including metformin, an oral medicine usually used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
There are also several medications and procedures available to help reduce and eliminate the excess hair growth associated with PCOS.
Additionally, there are several steps for you to take on your own to diminish your symptoms. The most important of which is losing excess weight and maintaining a healthy body weight. Losing weight not only helps reduce the number and intensity of your symptoms, it also improves the effectiveness of the medications Dr. Sharma prescribes.
If medications and lifestyle changes don’t alleviate your PCOS and allow you to get pregnant, surgery is another available solution. The two most common are:
Whether it’s excess weight or hair or your inability to get pregnant, Dr. Sharma at Fremont OB/GYN can help you with PCOS. Call or make an appointment online today.
