PCOS treatment Perth | Dr Hunter, Perth gynaecologist with a special interest in PCOS
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Treatment
PCOS is linked to a disorder of your "hormone system", your endocrine system. Glands secrete hormones, and these hormones are part of a communication system with distant organs. So Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is an endocrine disorder. The consequence is a dysfunction in your ovulation or impedance to the normal growth and release of eggs from your ovaries. Below we talk about PCOS treatment in more detail.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Treatment
PCOS is commonly seen in women of the child bearing age and is rare after menopause. Because it is caused by a dysfunction in your endocrine system, there is an imbalance in your hormones. That results in enlarged ovaries containing several small fluid-filled sacs or cysts.
Hormone Management
If your primary concern is not getting pregnant, then managing the hormone balance may be focused around other concerns, like acne, an irregular menstrual cycle, obesity or male-type hair growth. In this case the hormone therapy targets those symptoms rather than working on the lack of ovulation.
Oral contraceptives may be prescribed for the management of your irregular menstrual cycles. Oral contraceptives effectively reduce the level of male hormone and are also effective in reducing excessive body hair growth and also minimise the risks of uterine cancer.
Lifestyle Management
One of the first things to look at in managing PCOS, is your lifestyle: diet and exercise. It can help improve the underlying mechanism (insulin resistance). Changing your lifestyle is also about avoiding type 2 diabetes and heart disease as a consequence of long term PCOS symptoms. Besides diet and exercise, we can look at stress and lack of sleep, or habits like smoking.
To manage or prevent obesity and diabetes mellitus, we can prescribe anti-diabetic medication, combined with advice to change your lifestyle.
Your own situation is unique, and so are your personal concerns. Defining what's best is the work of your gynaecologist and fertility specialist.
Understanding women's health, or questions and issues in regards to your menstrual cycle, is absolutely critical for a specialist gynaecologist and the treatment of PCOS. I also believe it is critical that as women we get more comfortable discussing these women's health topics, among ourselves, with our loved ones, or with a specialist doctor. Part of my role is to create a nurturing and safe environment where it is okay to talk about your period, or women's health in general.
Comprehensive fertility treatment is planned and coordinated with Monash IVF West Leederville, one of WA’s leading fertility centres.
Call us to make an appointment: 1800 628 533
Fertility Management
The first line management for fertility is lifestyle management including weight exercise and dietary management. Once this has been optimised then medical or even surgical management can be instituted.
Assisting release of an egg (ovulation induction) can be done with medications including clomiphene, letrazole or gonadatrophin injections. Surgery can be used in the form of ovarian drilling as well. Other medications such as metformin can also be used to assist these treatment options to improve the chances of success.
Useful links
PCOS: Symptoms and 3 little known facts
Classic PCOS symptoms are bad skin, facial hair and also central obesity. However, a lot of thin women can suffer with PCOS. And often they are very difficult to treat.
What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? Causes, symptoms, associated risks?
From the blog:
- How does PCOS influence my IVF journey? PCOS and IVF
- Improving pregnancy outcomes: PCOS and Metformin
Dr Hunter
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My Practice
Dr Tamara Hunters consults at The Woom
43 Richardson St
WEST PERTH WA 6005
Call: 08 9388 7780