{"id":1596,"date":"2022-08-02T07:58:42","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T07:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/?p=1596"},"modified":"2023-06-20T14:26:32","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T14:26:32","slug":"understanding-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-what-are-the-best-treatments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/understanding-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-what-are-the-best-treatments\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: What Are the Best Treatments?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1216.8px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your period is irregular. There is unwanted hair growing in unwanted places. You seem to be gaining weight in your abdominal area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You may have PCOS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a genetic, reproductive, metabolic, and hormonal disorder affecting <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/basics\/pcos.html#:~:text=PCOS%20is%20one%20of%20the,US%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6-12%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of women of childbearing age. Interestingly, PCOS has nothing to do with cysts on your ovaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Though the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, several factors such as excess insulin and androgen seem to play a role. PCOS generally runs in families, but some of our patients have no family history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While there is no cure for PCOS, your symptoms can be successfully treated. The key is recognizing the symptoms, scheduling a visit to your <\/span><a href=\"\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">OB-GYN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and seeking treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Symptoms of PCOS<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The classic signs of PCOS include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">absent or irregular periods<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">excessive hair growth, usually in unwanted areas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">infertility<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">weight gain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">oily skin or acne<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How Is PCOS Diagnosed?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload size-full wp-image-1598 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed.jpg\" alt=\"Healthcare and Medical Concept - Doctor With Patient in Hospital\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27665%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201000%20665%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27665%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed-800x532.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/How-Is-PCOS-Diagnosed.jpg 1000w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here is the tricky part of diagnosing PCOS. Not all women with PCOS have irregular periods. Not all have unwanted hair or acne. And there is no one test that can provide you with a definitive answer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After an initial discussion of your medical history and a physical exam, your OBGYN may order a series of blood tests to check your hormone levels and an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A several medical conditions can have similar symptoms and must be ruled out before a diagnosis of PCOS may be made.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>PCOS Treatment Options\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just like there\u2019s no single PCOS test to diagnose it, there\u2019s no single solution for every patient. Not every woman responds well to the PCOS medication; some women respond well simply to lifestyle changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That is why treatment for PCOS generally includes a combination of general lifestyle changes and medications targeted to address specific issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>PCOS Nonmedication Treatment Options\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are our four top lifestyle modification recommendations:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Promote Healthy Weight Loss<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not all women with PCOS have a weight problem. But for those women who are overweight, losing weight can offer benefits including reducing the risk of diabetes, infertility, and heart disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Since many women with PCOS are also diagnosed with insulin resistance, your OBGYN may recommend eating a diet low in sugar and fat and high in fiber which helps control your blood sugar levels. Eliminating soda and juice, as well as refined carbohydrates can also help with weight loss and blood sugar levels. Since the most effective diet plans are ones that incorporate your preferences as well as the physician\u2019s recommendations, a consultation with a dietitian can be very helpful to maximize the benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Try an Anti-Inflammatory Diet<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s not just the insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance that are typical PCOS complications; chronic low-grade inflammation can also play a role. While diet modifications won\u2019t totally eliminate inflammation, they have been shown to reduce it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The anti-inflammatory diet was designed to include foods such as fish, nuts, olive oil, and legumes and reduce the intake of foods that can trigger inflammation like red meat. It focuses on foods with a low glycemic index but plenty of fiber and nutrients. Fish and poultry, green vegetables, fruits like berries and apples, and chia seeds are some of the foods you want to include in your diet. Green tea is often recommended because it contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. What that means is that green tea can be effective at decreasing stress, improving insulin activity, and lowering the risk of heart disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Exercise Regularly<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are so many benefits of exercise. It helps you lose weight, build muscle mass, and burn calories which can all help with insulin resistance. And exercise reduces stress which can exacerbate PCOS.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Minimize Stress Levels<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stress is part of our daily life. However, consistently high levels of stress can impact our health. Not only can stress trigger inflammation in the body, but it can also impede the proper functioning of various reproductive systems. For instance, it\u2019s not uncommon for women to miss their periods during times of heightened stress. When we are hyper-stressed, our body can also release an excess of testosterone which can lead to insulin resistance and Type-2 diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stress management can be beneficial and is very individualized. For some, practicing yoga and meditation has been found to reduce depression and improve flexibility. For others, any kind of exercise can be extremely beneficial. Of course, professional therapy is an excellent option when stress and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">anxiety <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">become overwhelming.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>PCOS Medication Options<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The combination of diet, exercise, and stress management can help reduce the symptoms of PCOS. We have seen it firsthand in our practice. But medication is often needed to ameliorate specific symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are the most common symptoms of PCOS and the medications we often prescribe to treat those symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Absent or Irregular periods\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload size-full wp-image-1599 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods-.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods-.jpg\" alt=\"Menstrual Pads and Tampons on Menstruation Period Calendar With White Flowers on Lilac Background\" width=\"1000\" height=\"662\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27662%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201000%20662%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27662%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods--200x132.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods--300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods--400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods--600x397.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods--768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods--800x530.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/55\/2022\/08\/Absent-or-Irregular-periods-.jpg 1000w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hormonal birth control is effective in treating some of the symptoms of PCOS. Specifically prescribed for women who do not plan to get pregnant, the combination of estrogen and progestin is given to lower androgen levels and regulate menstrual cycles.\u00a0 Taking hormonal birth control pills has the added benefit of reducing women\u2019s risk of developing endometrial and ovarian cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, hormonal birth control has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-019-46644-4?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=commission_junction&amp;utm_campaign=CONR_PF018_ECOM_GL_PHSS_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&amp;utm_content=textlink&amp;utm_term=PID100090071&amp;CJEVENT=698262d412cd11ed811846dc0a82b824\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">side effects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> which is why a medical history is an important part of developing your treatment plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Excessive Hair Growth in Unwanted Places<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some types of combined oral contraceptive tablets have been found to reduce unwanted hair by lowering androgen levels. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/drugs\/2\/drug-6288\/spironolactone-oral\/details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Spironolactone<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is often prescribed together with birth control pills since it blocks the production of male hormones when taken in higher doses. The topical cream <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/drugs\/2\/drug-19858\/eflornithine-topical\/details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">eflornithine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> has also proven to be effective in the treatment of excess hair growth related to PCOS.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Infertility<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are planning a family, here is the good news. PCOS does not mean you can\u2019t get pregnant. And if you are experiencing infertility, it can be treated with a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/drugs\/2\/drug-13979\/clomiphene-citrate-oral\/details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clomiphene<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an ovulation stimulant, is the most commonly prescribed medication and is generally the primary medication of choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Metformin, an insulin-sensitizing drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, is sometimes prescribed for women with PCOS. Additionally, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/drugs\/2\/drug-4297\/letrozole-oral\/details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Letrozole<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, often used to treat certain types of breast cancer, is sometimes prescribed off-label instead of clomiphene.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">PCOS is a very complex disorder. While it is common in women of childbearing age, it may be difficult to diagnose. But it is treatable. Whether you need to control your sugar levels, restore ovulation, start a family, or reduce the incidence of acne or excess hair growth, the OBGYNs and nurse practitioners at South Miami OB-GYN Associates have the expertise to individualize your treatment plan and restore your quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Click <\/span><a href=\"\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">HERE<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to schedule your appointment online today at either our South Miami or Downtown Doral office.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[290],"tags":[294,293,296,292,291,295],"class_list":["post-1596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pcos","tag-androgen-levels","tag-pcos-medication","tag-pcos-symptoms","tag-pcos-test","tag-pcos-treatment","tag-pcos-weight-loss-medication"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1596"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1596\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}