Ovarian polycystosis is an endocrine syndrome that causes the formation of multiple cysts in the ovaries. What symptoms does it produce and why does it appear? And what is the treatment that is prescribed? We reveal it to you.
Ovarian polycystosis is a disorder also known as Stein-Eventual syndrome and is considered one of the most frequent endocrine diseases in women during their reproductive stage, affecting a percentage of women between 5 and 10% who go through this stage.
This disease occurs due to an endocrine disorder that produces hormonal imbalances. The ovaries in their normal functioning of each month undergo changes, increase in size, are modified and sometimes do not ovulate correctly, in these cases they keep inside some bags full of liquids called cysts.
The causes why these cysts form are still unknown, although they could be the result of a hormonal disorder that prevents proper ovulation and favors the formation of these pockets of fluid.
This syndrome is not also considered a genetic disease that does not pose any risk to women’s health nor does it affect their reproductive capacity, as long as the disorder is not serious, in which case it may even require the removal of part of the ovary.
Symptoms of polycystic ovary disease
When women are affected by this disease they usually present a series of symptoms such as:
- Irregular menses.
- Heavy menses.
- Absence of menstruation.
- Excess hair on the face, chest and abdomen.
- Obesity.
- Hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol.
- Abdominal pain sometimes, especially when the cysts are large.
- Acne, seborrhea, hair loss.
On many occasions, polycystic ovary disease is discovered by the gynecologist in the annual check-up and sometimes it is detected without having presented the aforementioned symptoms.
By performing an ultrasound, the gynecologist observes how the ovaries are, seeing their appearance, whether or not there are cysts, and even measuring their size.
Treatment of polycystic ovary disease
The treatments to treat this disease can be several depending on the symptoms that have to be treated:
- To regulate menstrual cycles, the gynecologist usually prescribes oral contraceptives.
- For the body to reabsorb the cyst, the treatment is based on hormones.
- To treat acne, hair is usually treated with contraceptives and ant androgens.
- For cases in which there is obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol or diabetes, treatment begins by reducing body weight.
When it comes to more serious cases, other interventions are needed, such as electro cautery of the cysts or removal of part of the ovary (partial removal of the ovary).
As a consequence of some symptoms associated with this syndrome, some women who suffer from it may have problems getting pregnant; these symptoms are the absence of periods by not ovulating regularly every month or even in cases where menstruation is irregular.
Fortunately, today there are treatments so that women suffering from this syndrome can ovulate, which increases the hopes of becoming pregnant.
