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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COVID-19 Scams

Scams are almost as old as time. They always take advantage of our vulnerabilities and fears. So in times of mass panic, like has been caused by COVID-19, opportunities for scammers increase, said Southwestern Vermont Health Care's Information Technology Security Engineer Geoffrey Mazanec.

IT experts noted a 667 percent increase in malicious phishing e-mails as of the end of last month. Security firm Barracuda Networks identified 137 coronavirus-related phishing emails in January, 1,188 in February, and more than 9,000 in March. 

There are most likely several reasons for the increase.

  • First, many scams exploit our fears. As fear increases, so to opportunities for scammers. Many scams have been tweaked to include a reference to COVID-19, which may cause people to react more quickly and without thinking.
  • Scammers also exploit our desires to be good people—to pay our bills on time and follow directions—which could also be heightened during a crisis.
  • During COVID-19, everyone is conducting more business remotely. In the effort to keep all of our online activities straight, we may lose track of who is on the other end of the phone line or e-mail.
  • Mazanec notes that, with so many people out of work, scammers may have taken what had been a part-time swindling gig full time.

These startling statistics and our increased vulnerability make it a great time for a refresher about how scammers attack and how to avoid getting caught in a scheme.

Phishing. The most common way scammers operate is by phishing. They call or e-mail, usually posing to be a company or organization that you trust: the IRS, Medicare or Medicaid, or a company that you have done business with before. And they are crafty. They can even make it look as if they are calling from a business you recognize. They are counting on your thinking that they are the real thing.

"Lots of people, looking for protective equipment, for instance, are purchasing from companies that they have not dealt with in the past," Mazanec said. "Scammers want you to believe that you have purchased from them, when you have not."

They might send you an "invoice due" message with a .pdf attachment, or they might provide a link for you to click and log in. They want you to do one of two things: (1) Give up your personal information, either over the phone or by logging in to a fake sign-in page or (2) click on a .pdf or website that will infect your system.

So what can you do? Mazanec recommends not clicking. "If you don’t recognize it, don't open it. Instead, always question whether it is legitimate. And, no matter who it is, don't give anyone usernames or passwords."

Disconnect the call or delete the e-mail and call the company directly. If you don't have their number on hand, you can find it using a Google search. If you ask them whether they just called or e-mailed you, you will likely find that they have not. Congratulations. You’ve just avoided a scam.

Too good to be true. Some scammers are also selling fake products. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued warnings to seven companies selling fraudulent products that claim to test for, prevent, or treat COVID-19. Some even claimed to be approved by the FDA! Other companies are taking personal information in exchange for being added to a fake list for early access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

There is no valid at-home test for COVID-19 and no viable at-home treatments, unless you count rest and plenty of fluids for mild cases. Consult with your local healthcare provider before taking any testing or treatment action, as some can be harmful or even deadly.

To avoid scams like this one, read, watch, and listen to reputable news sources. If there is a legitimate at-home test, treatment, or vaccine, you will hear reports about it from your state's department of health and other official organizations.

More information about scams related to COVID-19 can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/media/phishing.html and https://www.ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams-consumer-advice.

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