Beyond Irregular Periods
Courtney Carter
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

Beyond Irregular Periods

The Far-Reaching Effects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, affecting 5-6 million American women. Despite its prevalence, PCOS is often underdiagnosed and misunderstood, leading to delays in treatment and management. With wide-ranging symptoms that affect some but not all women with the condition, PCOS can be challenging to diagnose.

Women usually discover they have PCOS in their 20s and 30s when they notice rare or irregular menstrual periods, or have trouble getting pregnant and see a doctor, but the earliest signs can appear in some girls around the time of puberty. 

 

Common symptoms could include:

  • Missed periods, irregular periods, very light periods, or very heavy periods

  • Ovaries that are large or have many cysts 

  • Extra hair growth, most notably on the face, chest, stomach, or thighs

  • Weight gain, especially around the abdomen, and/or obesity

  • Persistent acne or oily skin

  • Elevated blood glucose and signs of elevated glucose, including patches of skin that appear dark and velvety, most often where your skin folds (think armpits and groin)

 

Diagnosing PCOS typically involves identifying at least two of the following criteria:

  • irregular or absent menstrual periods

  • signs of high androgen levels (a male sex hormone), such as unwanted facial or body hair and acne, (especially with elevated androgen laboratory results)

  • polycystic ovaries visible on an ultrasound

Blood tests may be performed to measure hormone levels, and are important as they enable your care provider to rule out other conditions that might cause similar symptoms before confirming a diagnosis of PCOS and recommending treatment.

 

While there is no cure for PCOS, various treatments can help manage its symptoms. These include:

Lifestyle changes: Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise can reduce symptoms and help with ovulation and decrease cardiovascular risks.

Medication: Depending upon the underlying cause of your condition, your doctor may recommend one of the following medications:

  • Birth control pills: These help to control menstrual cycles, lower androgen levels, and reduce acne. 

  • Diabetes medicine: Used to lower insulin resistance in PCOS, diabetes medication may also reduce androgen levels, slow hair growth, and lead to more regular ovulation.

  • Anti-androgens: These medicines work by decreasing the amount of androgens produced by ovaries, and can help with acne and excess hair growth.

  • Fertility medication: For those seeking to conceive, fertility treatments such as ovulation-inducing medications or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be considered. 

 

PCOS is a complex condition. Early diagnosis and tailored treatment plans can significantly improve quality of life and reduce the risk of long-term health complications. If you’re experiencing symptoms of PCOS, consult with your gynecologic provider to confirm a diagnosis and explore the most appropriate treatment options for your needs.

 

Themarge Small, MD, FACOG, is an obstetrics & gynecology specialist at SVMC.

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How to Become a Mask Wearer

Long before COVID-19, online chat groups for people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) were filled with posts about how uncomfortable it is to wear a mask in public: not physically uncomfortable, a fact that was barely mentioned, but psychologically uncomfortable. For people with this condition or the lung transplant used to cure it, catching a cold or the flu could be deadly. They need to wear masks in public to help protect themselves from getting ill.

The participants discussed how awkward it is riding the bus in a mask, going to the grocery store in a mask, or boarding a plane while wearing one. They were mostly self-conscious that others would think they were ill or weak. Many would rather suffer the risk of getting fatally sick than put a mask on in a department store.

Now, we've all been directed to wear masks in public. Both Bennington and Wilmington's Select Boards have passed local mandates requiring masks in public places. This—along with distancing and handwashing—are crucial parts of returning to a more normal way of life. Suddenly, we are all feeling the psychological discomfort PF patients have felt for many years.

People usually have an interest in blending in. And, just like doing anything out of the ordinary, wearing a mask for the first time definitely feels like putting yourself out there. If we want to return to a somewhat normal way of life, masks are crucially important, along with frequent, thorough handwashing and keeping a distance from others.

Here are a few tips for making the leap from being someone nervous about wearing a mask to being a person who wears one regularly.

Do it for others. We know that people can spread COVID-19 as many as a few days before they get sick. Even if you feel fine, you could have COVID-19 right now without knowing it. At the same time, masks are far better at keeping sick people from spreading germs than they are at keeping people from getting sick. So wearing a mask isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of altruism. It's like saying, "I am not certain that I am not sick, so I want to pay those around me the consideration of limiting the likelihood I will infect them." Think of it as a badge of kindness.

Get a mask that fits. We know that masks are not completely comfortable physically. Getting the right fit makes a big difference in their "wearability." Cloth masks are readily available online and from local groups. The Green Mountain Mask Makers have excellent information and resources. If you can, purchase a few types in a few sizes to see which you like best. Buy enough of that type to allow washing between trips out in public.

Get a mask that you like. Once you have found a mask source and as long as you have a choice, pick one that you like. You can choose colors that match your wardrobe or that represent your interests, like camouflage. There are even masks that look like fashionable scarves when they hang around your neck. The sooner we start thinking of masks as part of our outfits, as essential and unremarkable as shoes or a belt, the healthier we will all be.

Try to quit caring about what others think. This one is hard. But one wise PF patient wrote, "I just don't give a darn!" Essentially, he shared that if people want to judge him for wearing a mask, so be it. Their opinions don't have a single thing to do with him. Many in the chat group applauded his confidence and vowed to adopt his attitude.

If we all do our best, soon the cultural scale will tip. Wearing a mask or not wearing one will cease to be a political statement. It will be normal. And thankfully, if wearing a mask in public, handwashing and sanitizing, and keeping our distance are all normal, going out into public again can be safe and normal too.

Donna Barron, RN, is the infection preventionist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

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