PCOS: How Can I Treat It?

PCOS is one of those things that doesn’t seem to be as well-known as it should. If you’re struggling to make sense of strange symptoms, stumbling upon PCOS and finding that your symptoms match up as a possible answer can be both a relief (because you have identified it) and a little bit scary (because it can lead to fertility issues). Keep reading to learn more about PCOS and what you can do about it.

What is PCOS?

PCOS leads a woman’s body to produce high levels of androgens, higher than normal. Androgens are usually thought of as male hormones, because men have much higher levels of androgens. But, women do have them, as well. Women just have them in a smaller dose. Abnormally high levels of androgens in women can interfere with the development of your eggs and the regular release of them, which means that your period can be often be unpredictable. Also, when you suffer from PCOS, your ovaries are larger than normal and can have cysts on them.

How does it affect fertility?

As mentioned, high androgen levels impact how your eggs are developed. If a healthy egg isn’t released, then you can’t become pregnant. PCOS can cause you to miss your period or have irregular periods that make tracking fertility frustrating. An abnormal period may lead you to head to the doctor to find answers.

How can I treat it?

For some women, gaining a lot of weight can affect their hormones. Strange, but true. So, losing weight if you do happen to be overweight may help adjust your hormones back to normal levels. Losing 10% of your body weight (if you are obese or overweight) may help bring your menstrual cycle back into a more normal pattern.

You may also be recommended to take birth control pills to manage the hormones in your body. Granted, if you’re trying to get pregnant, birth control pills may be the last thing on your list. There are other options we can explore with you, too.

If you want to learn more, give us a call at 214-544-6600 to schedule a consultation.