pcos

PCOS

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Project PCOS

http://www.projectpcos.org

What is it ?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women, affecting an estimated five to ten million women of reproductive age. For women trying to conceive a child, PCOS is a serious, common cause of infertility - nearly half of all female factor infertility cases can be traced to PCOS.

Many women present with significant ovulation problems that may indicate an underlying issue with their metabolism and nutrition. The common symptoms that may indicate polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) include very irregular or absent periods (100%), large and cystic ovaries (95%), obesity (75%), problems with excessive body hair growth and/or acne (70%), cholesterol and/or triglyceride abnormalities (70%), and a strong family history of diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, obesity, and irregular periods (100%).

It has been demonstrated that PCOS is due to an underlying metabolic problem known as insulin resistance. When the body's muscle and fat tissues become resistant to insulin action, the pancreas produces increasing amounts of insulin, leading to very high insulin levels. The high insulin levels tend to produce food cravings, particularly in the form of carbohydrates, making the cycle continue. High insulin levels make weight loss virtually impossible, and tend to promote weight gain. High insulin levels also drive the ovary to produce high amounts of male hormone (androgens), and cause follicles to literally die before they release mature eggs. As such, multiple cysts form in the ovaries, and no healthy eggs are released. Thus, infertility and a lack of ovulation are the hallmarks of PCOS.

PCOS and Insulin Resistance: Advance August 2004

PCOS Comes to Gynecology

Theories about Causation

It is felt there are a variety of factors contributing to PCOS

++Genetic Factors

++Environmental factors (exposure to pesticides and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals)

++Autoimmune disorders (ovarian, adrenal, pancreatic, thyroid)

++Excessive insulin production related to obesity0induced insulin resistance

++Excess intake of substances such as excitatory amino acids

++Medications that increase prolactin

It's My Ovaries, Stupid

http://www.herplace.com/ovaries.htm pp 252

Visual charts of PCOS

Source: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/317/7154/329

Incidence and treatment of metabolic syndrome in newly referred women with confirmed polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Metabolism. 2003 Jul;52(7):908-915

Diagnosing PCOS in women who menstruate regularly

Ovulatory Polycystic Ovary Syndrome A New Disorder

Contemporary OB/GYN® Archive: Jul. 1, 2003

Suggested Laboratory Studies

Diagnosis Tree

Differences between classic and mild forms of PCOS

Infertility, Implantation Failure and Miscarriages (PCOS)

http://repro-med.net/papers/pcos.php

Fertility Plus Table of Contents

http://www.fertilityplus.org/toc.html

Metformin for PCOS & Pregnancy

http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/metformin.html

Metformin for PCOS

http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/metformin.html#pcos

Metformin for Pregnancy

http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/metformin.html#pg

Syndrome O

Over the years, the clinical label Polycystic Ovary Syndrome has suggested a confusing primary disorder of the ovaries, both to women and their doctors. Syndrome O gets to the real heart of the problem - Ovarian Confusion and Ovulation disruption, caused primarily by Overnourishment and Overproduction of insulin. In reality, polycystic ovaries,
infertility and other health problems are all consequences of Syndrome O.

http://www.ivf-de.com/syndromeo.html

FAQs: http://www.ivf-de.com/faq.html

http://www.pcostrategies.org/index.html

http://www.pcostrategies.org/syndromeo.html

http://www.reproductiveassociates.org/syndromeo.html

Getting Pregnant

When Syndrome O Is Getting In Your Way (Part 1)

When Syndrome O Is Getting In Your Way (Part 2)

http://www.reproductiveassociates.org/syndromeo.html