Treatment for PCOS
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) occurs in a tenth of all women of childbearing age. It is an endocrine disorder that affects a woman’s menstrual cycle and can lead to infertility. Treatment for PCOS addresses the formation of abnormal ovarian cysts which look a bit like a string of pearls.
PCOS Treatment Protocols
Other names for PCOS include sclerocystic ovarian disease, chronic anovulatory syndrome and sometimes Stein-Leventhal Syndrome. Whatever handle you choose for the condition, treatment for PCOS may involve one of several protocols.
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…treatment for PCOS & ovarian cysts
PCOS can affect the menstrual cycle and cause ovarian cyst pain and infertility…making treatment for PCOS an absolute necessity.
Here’s Dr. Lisa Gibbons with a good overview of PCOS. Towards the end, she talks about the long-term repercussions of PCOS and why treatment should not be ignored.
The most common effect of PCOS is a sporadic or even nonexistent period which disrupts ovulation. Women who do get their period experience unusually heavy or light flow.
A woman with PCOS may gain weight and develop skin problems such as acne and brownish patches called Acanthosis Nigricans. Other side effects include unusually heavy facial or body hair growth…or alternatively, male pattern baldness. The patient may also develop high cholesterol levels and resistance to insulin and thus high blood sugar levels. Anxiety, fatigue, depression, reduced sex drive, thyroid problems and sleep apnea are still other symptoms making treatment for PCOS necessary.
Treatment for
PCOS Related Menstrual Abnormalities
PCOS mainly keeps the ovarian follicles from ripening, thereby inhibiting the production of progesterone. An inadequate supply of this female hormone disrupts the menstrual cycle.
Birth control pills are a common treatment for PCOS. They reduce the production of male hormones and, hopefully, create more of a male/female hormone balance…thereby normalizing the menstrual cycle.
This PCOS treatment must be applied consistently. Once you discontinue the pills, your period will most likely become irregular again and your ovarian problems are back.
Some women choose instead to take progesterone pills, which can regulate the period. However, this method will not eliminate the effects of excessive male hormones.
Treatment for PCOS Related Infertility
When addressing the problem of infertility, the main concern is to prevent the disruption of the ovulation process to increase chances of pregnancy. Fertility drugs such as clomifene are another common treatment for PCOS. Fertility drugs of this type encourage ovulation. Unfortunately, however, only 30 to 50 percent of women who opt for this approach actually become pregnant.
In case clomifene alone does not result in pregnancy, those who are intent on overcoming infertility may want to consider metformin together with clomifene.
You can also look in vitro fertilization (IVF) or direct injections of gonadotropins. However, gonalotropin treatment is quite expensive, and you may get more than you bargain for…as in multiple births. IVF, on the other hand, is more controllable, but it is also quite costly.
The right treatment for PCOS depends on many things. Because it affects fertility, the issue of pregnancy is a major factor. The PCOS treatment best suited for you can only be determined after a thorough consultation with your doctor.
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…treatment for PCOS & ovarian cysts
Treatment for Ovarian Cysts
The treatment for ovarian cysts depends mainly on the nature and characteristics of the cysts themselves. Treatment for ovarian cyst, in the singular, may be different from the treatment of multiple cysts.
Most ovarian cysts are “functional,” meaning they form as part of the menstrual cycle. The vast majority of these functional cysts disappear once the ovum starts to travel towards the uterus.
Situations Requiring Treatment for Ovarian Cysts
Some cysts, however, are not so insignificant. They can block the blood vessels supplying the ovaries. They may even be malignant and continue to grow. In such cases, treatment for ovarian cysts should be sought immediately as the health consequences can be serious.
Rather than rely on conventional medicine, many women these days are opting for alternative treatment for ovarian cysts.
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…non-surgical treatment for ovarian cysts
The holistic approach characterizes alternative methods of medical treatment. It takes into account not only the physiological elements but also the spiritual and emotional. Treatment for ovarian cysts may be of one or more of the following types:
- Dietary supplements
- Herbal preparations
- Homeopathy
- Special diets
Many women attest to the effectiveness of alternative medical methods in the treatment for ovarian cysts.
Even so, the selection of ovarian cyst treatment must still take into account the same factors. These include the age, overall health and the desire to have children, as well as the number, location and size of the cyst or cysts. Conventional treatment protocols will be briefly discussed now.
Birth control pills
Most contraceptive pills combine progesterone and estrogen and serve to regulate the menstrual cycle. As a treatment for ovarian cysts, the patient is directed to ignore the sugar pills which are part of the cycle and take the live pills daily. This will prevent the release of the egg and thus the period. As most cysts form during menstruation, this will prevent cysts from forming at all. This ovarian cyst treatment is often prescribed for women who are genetically predisposed to cysts.
Surgery
The surgical removal of cysts in the area of the pelvis is called a cystectomy. Typically a procedure for treating cancer of the gall bladder, cystectomies are also effective in removing benign ovarian cysts that may be causing trouble. Because the process leaves the ovaries intact, this is the surgery of choice for patients with ovarian cysts who want to maintain the ability to conceive.
However, if the cyst happens to be cancerous, then a cystectomy is not the solution. In such cases, the removal of a part or the whole of the affected ovary becomes necessary.
Oophorectomy
Another surgical treatment for ovarian cysts is called an oophorectomy, usually the last option considered when the cysts prove to be cancerous. Sometimes called an orchiectomy or ovariotomy, it involves the removal of one or both of a woman’s ovaries. It is not a procedure to be undertaken lightly, as there are serious long-term effects on the patient.
The ovaries primarily produce eggs for fertilization, but they also control the estrogen levels in a woman’s body. Once the ovaries are removed it is often necessary to undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Since HRT is now believed to have a link to the incidence of breast cancer, HRT is not always a good idea. Other recovery options for oophorectomy patients also need to be considered.
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Natural Ovarian Cyst Relief Secrets
…non-surgical treatment for ovarian cysts
Ovarian Cyst Treatment
The protocols for ovarian cyst treatment are dictated by circumstances. These include the age of the patient, the kind of ovarian cyst, as well as its location and size.
When ovarian cysts are detected, standard practice is to monitor the patient with ultrasound examinations over the next two menstrual periods. The vast majority of cysts prove to be functional, meaning they resolve themselves over time without treatment.
If the cyst goes away and returns, the doctor may recommend contraceptive pills…hormonal therapy to prevent the formation of future cysts.
If the cyst is still present and growing (over 2 inches) the doctor may recommend laparoscopy to remove the cyst.
Natural Ovarian Cyst Treatment
For many ovarian cysts, treatment involves letting nature take its course. This wait-and-see approach is normally recommended after the doctor determines there is no immediate health risk to the patient. Unless the pain is more than the woman can bear, it is normally better to watch and wait.
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Herbs for Ovarian Cysts
Herbal remedies are often preferred by both doctor and patient. Ovarian cysts normally occur due to hormonal imbalances and a combination of herbal therapy and a plant based diet has been known to correct hormonal imbalances. Some herbal preparations also act to cleanse the liver and provide increased vigor.
But herbal therapy is not a magic cure. It can take up to 3 months of regular use for herbal ovarian cysts treatments to be effective.
The following herbs have been known to manage and inhibit the growth of ovarian cysts.
- Vitex (full name Vitex agnus-casta, also known as chasteberry) – restores balance and harmony of the body by regulating hormones.
This herb has long been used to treat conditions due to hormonal imbalance, including those associated with the menopause. - Wild yam – also for hormonal balance
- black cohosh – popular as a regulating agent for menstrual cycles through hormone balancing
- Milk thistle – overall cleansing
- Dandelion – cleans the liver
- Bee pollen – for building up strength and resistance
Food Matters
Initial research done in Italy indicates that a diet rich in milk and meat products can lead to the development of ovarian cysts. There is growing support for an ovarian cyst treatment diet which includes primarily fruits and vegetables. A diet rich in fiber, including whole grains, and a lot of garlic is recommended for those with a predisposition to ovarian cysts. Sugar and white flour is also thought to inhibit the body’s response to healing.
Medication
In cases where polycystic ovaries are the root of the problem, treatment protocols vary. Since infertility is a common effect of polycystic ovaries, a woman trying to get pregnant will require a different treatment than a woman who is not.
For the future mother, a common ovarian cyst treatment is Clomid, a fertility drug which encourages ovulation. If conception is not a major issue, the doctor may prescribe Provera, which has a regulating effect on the hormones that control the menstrual cycle.
Surgical Options
Complex ovarian cysts may require surgical removal. These complex types include dermoid cysts, endometrial cysts and cystadenomas. The surgical ovarian cyst treatment for small cysts is often laparoscopy done through the belly button to minimize scaring.
A burst (i.e. ruptured ) ovarian cyst may also require surgery after the patient has stabilized from the rupture itself. A laparoscopic or surgical exploration may be used to either diagnose or treat the burst ovarian cyst.
If the cyst is more than 2 inches across, these other options may have to be considered:
Ovarian cystectomy – involves removal of the cyst only
Partial oophorectomy – the cyst and a part of the ovary will be removed
Salpingo-oophorectomy – excision of the cyst, ovary and fallopian tube; the need for this procedure will depend on the size, behavior and nature of the cyst. A large, twisted cyst may pose a serious threat to a patient’s well-being.
Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy – this is the radical removal of the entire reproductive system of the patient, often required if the cyst proves to be a malignant growth.
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Complex Ovarian Cysts
Complex ovarian cysts are a category of ovarian cysts that can be troublesome. As a part of taking care of their overall well being, all women should have a basic understanding of the facts and issues related to both simple and complex ovarian cysts.
Complex Ovarian Cysts
can be Serious or Totally Harmless
Run-of-the-mill ovarian cysts are harmless fluid-filled sacs on one or both ovaries. A complex ovarian cyst is a combination of liquid and solid material. In most situations, ovarian cysts are so unproblematic that they come and go without a woman’s knowledge…this is perfectly normal. Even most complex ovarian cysts do not cause ovarian pain and are harmless. They can, however, pose a problem if they rupture or become unusually large.
Predisposing Conditions
The risk factors or predisposition to developing complex ovarian cysts should determine if you should be extra vigilant toward signals you receive from your body. One factor is your medical history. If you have developed cysts before, you are more likely to develop a complex ovarian cyst than someone who has never had an ovarian cyst.
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An irregular menstrual cycle is another risk factor. Many women with this condition are prescribed oral contraceptives to regulate menstruation. For those who don’t take medication, the chances of developing ovarian cysts is higher. Women who had their first period before the age of 11 are also more prone to developing ovarian cysts moving forward.
Obesity is another risk factor, especially if the excessive weight is concentrated in the torso. An overweight condition can lead to a disruption of the reproductive cycle, as well as be a trigger for developing complex ovarian cysts. Maintaining your ideal weight will reduce that risk.
Hormonal imbalances can also increase your chances of developing ovarian cysts. One example is hyperthyroidism.
Women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer are considered at risk for complex ovarian cysts. Some cancer medications, specifically Tamoxifen, seem to have a correlation to the development of ovarian cysts.
Your family history should also be considered. If women in your family had or have cyst problems, you are more likely to develop them as well.
Diagnostic Options
If you fit the profile for increased risk of developing ovarian cysts, the smart thing to do is to keep regular tabs on your body. Your regular medical checkups should be enough if your doctor is on the look out for complex ovarian cysts and other ovarian problems. Early detection is the key in treating most medical conditions. In the case of complex ovarian cysts, complications can develop rather quickly so early diagnosis is especially important.
If your physician suspects the presence of a cyst, further diagnostic options are available to you. An endovaginal ultrasound done will reveal the nature of any cysts that are detected. Other imaging options include an MRI or CT scan.
If a complex ovarian cyst is detected, cancer is normally the greatest concern. A blood test called CA 125 is usually performed as a test for ovarian cancer. The vast majority of ovarian cysts are non-cancerous and the CA 125 is a quick way to set the patient’s mind at ease…helping them to relax and be psychologically prepared for the recommended treatment.
In the end, personal vigilance is important. You need to keep your doctor updated on your health conditions and risk factors for complex ovarian cysts, so that timely intervention can happen, if necessary.
Suffering from ovarian cyst pain? Check out
Natural Ovarian Cyst Relief Secrets
…eliminate even complex ovarian cysts
Another ovarian condition often involving cysts is PCOS. The ovaries of women with PCOS frequently contain a number of small cysts, hence the name poly=many cystic ovarian syndrome. Cysts on the ovaries are just one symptom of PCOS and are not thought to be the cause of the condition.
Women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly…meaning they do not release an egg every month. This is why they do not have regular periods and typically have difficulty conceiving. The cysts associated with PCOS are typically not problematic and treatment for PCOS does not focus on eliminating them.
