Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Specialist
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Elite IVF
Infertility and Reproductive Medicine & Minimally Invasive Robotic Gynecology located throughout Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) comes from an excessive amount of male hormones in your system and can result in masculine traits, like male-pattern baldness or facial hair growth. If you have PCOS and want to explore available treatments, Botros Rizk, MD, MA FACOG, FACS, HCLD, FRCOG, FRCS, and his team can help you manage your condition and improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy. Elite IVF serves patients in The Woodlands, Odessa, and Houston, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, and Fairhope, Alabama. For more information about PCOS, call Elite IVF, or book an appointment online today.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Q&A
What is polycystic ovary syndrome?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting your ovaries. One of your first indications of PCOS might be complications with your menstrual period: it might last for an unusually long time each month or arrive infrequently or irregularly.
If you have PCOS, you develop many follicles on your ovaries because of an overproduction of male hormones called androgens. Ovarian follicles are small sacs that contain fluid. Usually, the follicles contain eggs.
If you have PCOS, these eggs don’t mature enough for you to ovulate. This causes you to produce fewer female hormones, further highlighting your excessive amount of male hormones. Factors like your genetics, insulin resistance, and inflammation can all contribute to PCOS.
What are the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome?
If you have PCOS, you might begin to notice symptoms around your first menstrual period. Otherwise, symptoms might only become apparent after you gain a significant weight or after you attempt to get pregnant. They may include:
- Acne
- Excess body hair growth, including on your face
- Weight gain
- Dark skin patches
- Male-pattern baldness
- Irregular periods
- Heavy periods
- Headaches
If you have these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment at Elite IVF for a complete evaluation and diagnosis. The team might perform a pelvic exam, blood tests, ultrasound imaging, and other testing strategies to diagnose you with PCOS accurately or to rule it out.
What are the possible complications of polycystic ovary syndrome?
Excessive male hormones in your body from PCOS can lead to many difficult complications affecting your physical health. One common complication is infertility, or trouble getting pregnant when you’re trying. Other possible complications that often stem from PCOS hormone imbalances include:
- Sleep apnea
- Depression
- Metabolic syndrome
- Endometrial cancer
If you have PCOS and get pregnant, you’re more likely to have pregnancy complications too. You’re at a higher risk of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure.
What are my treatment options for polycystic ovary syndrome?
The team at Elite IVF helps you manage your PCOS to avoid complications and reduce symptoms. They create an individualized treatment plan for you, often including multiple approaches. Your treatment plan might include:
- Weight loss
- A low-calorie diet
- Physical activity
- Hormonal birth control
- Progestin therapy
- Regular tests and monitoring
- Ovulation induction
- IUI
Your treatment might also include remedies for specific symptoms, like acne.
For more information about polycystic ovary syndrome, call Elite IVF, or book an appointment online today.
