Hormone Replacement Therapy
5 Things You Need to Know About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
What is polycystic ovarian syndrome?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. It often takes the form of higher-than-normal levels of male hormones, known as androgens, such as testosterone. This hormone imbalance causes women to skip menstrual periods, and generally leads to difficulty achieving pregnancy.1
The condition is manifested by many, small fluid-filled sacs, or cysts, which grow inside the ovaries. Studies have shown these cysts are actually follicles, each one containing an immature egg which never ripens to promote ovulation. When you don’t ovulate, the levels of estrogen and progesterone are much lower, while the levels of androgens are significantly higher.2
It is estimated that polycystic ovarian syndrome affects about 30% of women during their childbearing years, usually between 16 and 40 years of age.3
Common Symptoms of PCOS
The symptoms of PCOS may be mild at first, and sometimes not even noticed. However, with time things can get worse, and may need medical attention.
Here are some of the most common symptoms associated with PCOS:
- Very irregular periods.
- Acne-like skin breakouts.
- Unexplained weight gain.
- Thinning hair on the scalp.
- Distressing, excessive hair growth on the face and body.
- Frequent bouts of depression and anxiety, which may come and go.
- Serious problems with fertility when trying to get pregnant.
- Painful, enlarged ovaries.
Doctors do not know exactly what causes PCOS, but some studies indicate that genetics may be involved, as well as insulin resistance, and higher than normal levels of inflammation in the body.4
Other symptoms of PCOS, besides physical symptoms
Studies have shown that an abundance of women are affected by emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. These are usually the result of appearance issues, like excess belly fat, facial hair growth, loss of head hair, and an inability to get pregnant, which may all lead to depression and moodiness.5
More research has indicated that body-image and self-esteem is an enormous, under-rated issue for women suffering from PCOS.
Health practitioners have now realized that stress management is a critical part of any treatment for PCOS to relieve symptoms, whether it be hormonal, or lifestyle changes.
What are the risks of PCOS?
PCOS is not a fatal disorder, as the cysts on the ovaries are benign. However, if left untreated, there are certain potential risks.6
- Women diagnosed with PCOS have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, endometrial cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
- Serious fertility problems.
- If pregnancy is achieved, there is a higher risk of a miscarriage, as well as gestational diabetes.
- Depression, anxiety, and possible eating disorders.
- Sleep apnea.
All of these risks are linked to hormonal imbalances. If you are diagnosed with PCOS, no matter what your age is, you need to start treatment in order to minimize the risks associated with the condition, to protect your health.
How is PCOS treated?
There is no cure for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, but controlling it lowers your risk of other serious health conditions. Also, treatment options depend on your specific symptoms, health risks and whether you want to get pregnant.
Some of the different treatment options available for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome include:7
- Weight loss, since obesity, is known to increase inflammation in the body, which is a potential cause of PCOS.
- A healthy eating plan can help to relieve the symptoms, and also promote weight loss. Cut out high-carb, refined and sugary foods which are known to cause inflammation. Increase intake of healthy foods which decrease inflammation, such as tomatoes, green leafy veggies, olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
- Quit smoking, since women who smoke have higher levels of androgens than women who do not smoke.
- Because PCOS is mainly the result of a hormone imbalance, hormone therapy is potentially the best treatment option for successfully dealing with the symptoms of PCOS.
Since synthetic, chemically manufactured hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, the female sex hormones, have potentially harmful side effects.8
More and more women are opting for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) which has relatively few side effects. In fact, when the correct dosage is achieved, side effects are negligible.
We can help
BHRT hormones are completely natural and manufactured from plant extracts. They are exactly the same as the hormones made in the body and are not treated as an alien substance by the body – which is the case with the synthetic hormones.
At Renew Health and Wellness, our procedure is designed to deliver hormones uniquely suited to individual needs, using pellet therapy, which ensures that the correct dosage is absorbed by the body.
For more information about the BHRT protocol, contact us www.renewmetoday.com to take the hormone health test and see how we can help you.
References:
What is polycystic ovarian syndrome?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. It often takes the form of higher-than-normal levels of male hormones, known as androgens, such as testosterone. This hormone imbalance causes women to skip menstrual periods, and generally leads to difficulty achieving pregnancy.1
The condition is manifested by many, small fluid-filled sacs, or cysts, which grow inside the ovaries. Studies have shown these cysts are actually follicles, each one containing an immature egg which never ripens to promote ovulation. When you don’t ovulate, the levels of estrogen and progesterone are much lower, while the levels of androgens are significantly higher.2
It is estimated that polycystic ovarian syndrome affects about 30% of women during their childbearing years, usually between 16 and 40 years of age.3
Common Symptoms of PCOS
The symptoms of PCOS may be mild at first, and sometimes not even noticed. However, with time things can get worse, and may need medical attention.
Here are some of the most common symptoms associated with PCOS:
- Very irregular periods.
- Acne-like skin breakouts.
- Unexplained weight gain.
- Thinning hair on the scalp.
- Distressing, excessive hair growth on the face and body.
- Frequent bouts of depression and anxiety, which may come and go.
- Serious problems with fertility when trying to get pregnant.
- Painful, enlarged ovaries.
Doctors do not know exactly what causes PCOS, but some studies indicate that genetics may be involved, as well as insulin resistance, and higher than normal levels of inflammation in the body.4
Other symptoms of PCOS, besides physical symptoms
Studies have shown that an abundance of women are affected by emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. These are usually the result of appearance issues, like excess belly fat, facial hair growth, loss of head hair, and an inability to get pregnant, which may all lead to depression and moodiness.5
More research has indicated that body-image and self-esteem is an enormous, under-rated issue for women suffering from PCOS.
Health practitioners have now realized that stress management is a critical part of any treatment for PCOS to relieve symptoms, whether it be hormonal, or lifestyle changes.
What are the risks of PCOS?
PCOS is not a fatal disorder, as the cysts on the ovaries are benign. However, if left untreated, there are certain potential risks.6
- Women diagnosed with PCOS have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, endometrial cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
- Serious fertility problems.
- If pregnancy is achieved, there is a higher risk of a miscarriage, as well as gestational diabetes.
- Depression, anxiety, and possible eating disorders.
- Sleep apnea.
All of these risks are linked to hormonal imbalances. If you are diagnosed with PCOS, no matter what your age is, you need to start treatment in order to minimize the risks associated with the condition, to protect your health.
How is PCOS treated?
There is no cure for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, but controlling it lowers your risk of other serious health conditions. Also, treatment options depend on your specific symptoms, health risks and whether you want to get pregnant.
Some of the different treatment options available for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome include:7
- Weight loss, since obesity, is known to increase inflammation in the body, which is a potential cause of PCOS.
- A healthy eating plan can help to relieve the symptoms, and also promote weight loss. Cut out high-carb, refined and sugary foods which are known to cause inflammation. Increase intake of healthy foods which decrease inflammation, such as tomatoes, green leafy veggies, olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
- Quit smoking, since women who smoke have higher levels of androgens than women who do not smoke.
- Because PCOS is mainly the result of a hormone imbalance, hormone therapy is potentially the best treatment option for successfully dealing with the symptoms of PCOS.
Since synthetic, chemically manufactured hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, the female sex hormones, have potentially harmful side effects.8
More and more women are opting for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) which has relatively few side effects. In fact, when the correct dosage is achieved, side effects are negligible.
We can help
BHRT hormones are completely natural and manufactured from plant extracts. They are exactly the same as the hormones made in the body and are not treated as an alien substance by the body – which is the case with the synthetic hormones.
At Renew Health and Wellness, our procedure is designed to deliver hormones uniquely suited to individual needs, using pellet therapy, which ensures that the correct dosage is absorbed by the body.
For more information about the BHRT protocol, contact us www.renewmetoday.com to take the hormone health test and see how we can help you.
References:
