Dr Larisa Corda offers advice for women with PCOS
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Women who have PCOS have larger than normal ovaries, which can contain tiny cysts that contain immature eggs, WebMD certified. In addition, an excess of androgens disturbs the development of eggs and ovulation. Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Dr Larisa Corda addressed how fertility can be improved if you suffer from PCOS. Firstly, vitamin D and C supplementation are said to have a “positive effect” on your hormones.
De Corda added that women wanting to fall pregnant should “cut out caffeine and alcohol” as they can “wreak havoc on cortisol levels”.
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is impacted by PCOS; other hormones affected by the condition include sex hormones, insulin regulation, and a person’s metabolism.
Described as a “complicated” health condition, women with PCOS benefit from exercising to improve insulin sensitivity.
Furthermore, losing any extra weight you may be carrying can encourage regular ovulation.
The ovulation process explained
The Cleveland Clinic stated that ovulation is a phase in the menstrual cycle where an egg is released from a woman’s ovary.
The fully matured egg is released, usually on day 14 of a 28-day cycle (although this can vary), every month in response to a surge in the luteinising hormone.
The Office on Women’s Health explained that women with PCOS have higher than normal androgen levels.
An excess of this hormone prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg (i.e. ovulating) during each menstrual cycle.
DON’T MISS
Diabetes: The cholesterol-lowering fruit that helps [INSIGHT]
Supplement: The mineral that doubles risk of dementia [ADVICE]
Cancer: The ‘seemingly’ healthy food that raises cancer risk [TIPS]
As a result, a woman may find it harder to fall pregnant as there is not a fully matured egg available for sperm to fuse with.
One telling sign of PCOS is period irregularities, which can include missed periods.
Alternatively, a woman might experience periods every 21 days or more often.
Another sign of the hormone disorder includes “too much hair” on the face and chin; this is known as hirsutism.
Other symptoms can include:
- Acne
- Thinning hair
- Weight gain
- Darkening of the skin
- Skin tags.
PCOS has been linked to numerous health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, and endometrial cancer.
For women experiencing difficulties with falling pregnant, other treatments might be considered.
One such treatment is medication called clomiphene that can help you ovulate.
Other options include in vitro fertilisation (IVF) where the egg is fertilised with sperm in a laboratory.
The fertilised embryo is then placed into your uterus to implant on the uterine wall and to develop into a baby.
Surgery may also be considered, as women with PCOS tend to have a thickened cortex (i.e. outer shell) of the ovaries that prevents ovulation.
Ovarian drilling is where a few holes are made in the surface of the ovary to restore ovulation for up to eight months.
Source: Read Full Article