A Visual Guide to PCOS

What Is It?

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that affects millions of women. Sometimes it's called Stein-Leventhal syndrome.

All bodies need both "male" and "female" hormones to work right, but a woman with PCOS has too much of the male kind. This creates problems with your ovaries: You might have irregular periods or no periods, and you could get cysts in a "string of pearls" pattern. PCOS is also a common cause of infertility.

The condition can't be cured, but it can be treated.

Other Symptoms

You'll tend to gain weight, especially around the waist, and have a hard time losing it. You'll often grow extra hair or have thinning hair. You may get acne or dark patches of skin. Pelvic pain and depression are also possible symptoms.

Causes

Doctors don't know exactly why you get it, but some researchers think high levels of insulin are at the root of the illness. If you're overweight, your chances of developing it are greater.

Your genes play a role, too. If your mother or sister has PCOS, you're more likely to have it. Most women are diagnosed in their 20s or 30s. But even girls as young as 11, who haven't gotten their period yet, can have it.

Diagnosis

PCOS symptoms affect as many as 5 million women. To be diagnosed, you'll have at least two of these: infrequent and irregular periods, a high level of specific hormones, and more than 12 cysts. Find a doctor who specializes in it. They'll ask you about your family, check your body and your ovaries, and take a blood sample. They'll probably rule out other issues, such as a thyroid problem, first.

Treatment

You can take medicine to help relieve symptoms. Your doctor may give you birth control pills to regulate your period or another hormone occasionally to start your period. Metformin, a diabetes medicine, may lower your "male" hormone levels. So does the drug spironolactone (Aldactone). You can also try medicated creams and laser treatments to get rid of extra hair.

Natural Treatments

Weight loss is one of the best things you can do: It makes your periods more normal, and it can also lessen hair growth and depression. Eating well is a big part of that. Also pay attention to how foods affect your blood sugar and insulin, like you would for diabetes. Exercise, the kind that gets your heart pumping, as well as lifting weights to keep your muscles strong, will help control your weight, your stress, and your feelings. If you smoke, quit.

Infertility Treatment

In a very small study of women with this condition, most of them who dropped more than 5% of their weight either got pregnant or had more regular periods. The most common drug used for infertility caused by PCOS, clomiphene, triggers the release of mature eggs. Your doctor may suggest other drugs, too, or in vitro fertilization.

Pregnancy

Your doctor will want to watch you for signs of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and early labor and delivery. New research suggests that the diabetes drug metformin will help prevent pregnancy-related issues.

Babies who are born to moms with PCOS may spend more time in intensive care.

Related Health Risks

When you have PCOS, you need to see your doctor regularly for checkups. You're more likely to have trouble from:

• High cholesterol, which may lead to heart disease, including high blood pressure and heart attack
• Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes
• Obesity
• Sleep apnea
• Mood disorders, like depression and bipolar disorder
• Endometrial cancer, especially when you're older

Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD, FACOG on October 27, 2015

Sources: 

IMAGES PROVIDED BY:

1) © 2015 Photo Researchers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

2) © 2015 Photo Researchers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

3) Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc/Getty

4) Angello Deco/Thinkstock

5) Fuse/Thinkstock

6) © 2015 Photo Researchers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

7) Sneksy/Thinkstock

8) Kiyoshi Takahase Segundo/Thinkstock

9) Pojoslaw/Thinkstock

10) Digital Skillet/Getty

SOURCES:

PCOS Foundation: "What Is PCOS?" "Types of Medical Treatment," "How Do I Know If I Have PCOS?" "Types of Doctors that Treat PCOS."

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: "What is PCOS?" "How do health care providers diagnose PCOS?" "Treatments to Relieve Symptoms of PCOS," "Treatments for Infertility Resulting from PCOS."

Office on Women's Health: "Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) fact sheet."

University of Chicago Medicine: "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Treatment Options," "PCOS Health Risks."

UpToDate: "Patient information: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Beyond the Basics)."

This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information:

© 2015 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Happy Weekend At Singapore

10 PUBLIC HOT SPOTS FOR GERM

1. Swimming With Bacteria

A water park crawling with 1,000 kids can have 22 pounds of poop floating around, says Michele Hlavsa, RN, chief of the CDC's Healthy Swimming Program. Little kids can carry as much as 10 grams of leftover feces on their rear ends, she says. They don't make a habit of washing off before jumping in, so all that poop just rinses off into the pool. It adds up, and chlorine doesn't kill everything. The CDC found that more than half of pools test positive for E. coli, which can cause bloody diarrhea. Your best line of defense? Try not to swallow any water.

2. What’s for Dinner?

Restaurant menus have 100 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, says Charles Gerba, PhD, a microbiologist with the University of Arizona, better known as Dr. Germ. They’re touched by tons, but only wiped down once a day, if that, and usually with a used rag. Instead of washing your hands before you sit down, scrub up after you order. And never lay your silverware on top of the menu.

3. Like Germs With Your Garnish?

Like a squeeze of lemon with your water? Researchers looked at dozens of wedges from the rims of restaurant glasses. They found nearly 70% of the lemons had disease-causing microbes, including E. coli and feces, that could cause some nasty stomach issues. Next time, you may want to take your iced tea lemon-free.

4. The Fountain of Youth

Think twice before sipping from the water fountain at your kid's school. It’s dirtier than their toilet seats! That’s because the bathrooms are cleaned regularly. Have you ever seen someone clean a drinking fountain? Just carry a water bottle with you instead.

5. Soap Scum

Ironically, public soap pumps are a breeding ground for bacteria, too. Think about it: From the stall to the sink, there’s no telling what your hands can pick up. So scrub for at least 20 seconds or carry hand sanitizer. And before you reach for that door handle, think about how many people don’t wash after using the restroom. The CDC says only 31% of men and 65% of women do.

6. Carting Around Grime

Shopping cart handles can be downright gross. Turns out you’re picking up more than just a loaf of bread. That handle can be swarming with up to 11 million microorganisms, including ones from raw meat. And just think about all the dirty diapers on that seat -- the same one you’re putting your produce on. A lot of grocery stores have antibacterial wipes handy, so use them.

7. Lift a Hand

Many people shudder at having to touch door handles, but they should be wary of elevator buttons, too. Again, do you ever see someone actually clean those? Push them with your elbow, take the stairs, or have sanitizer on hand.

8. Check In and Check It Out

Hotel rooms come with a lot more than a mint on your pillow. The TV remote is the dirtiest object in there and could use a quick wipe before you channel surf. Other potential petri dishes: the bedside lamp switch, bedspread, hair dryer, telephone, and unwrapped drinking glasses.

9. Frolic in Filth

Grubby little fingers grab slides and swings one after another. But playgrounds are rarely cleaned. The worse spot is the sandbox, with 36 times more germs than a restaurant tray. And bacteria love nothing more than to hide out in warm, moist places. Come stocked with hand sanitizer and wipes.

10. Dirty Money

ATM buttons, cash, and a revolving door of bank customers equals ick. In fact, the flu virus can live on a dollar bill for 17 days! But no one uses gloves or tissues to handle money. As for ATMs, companies hope to roll out touch screens with antimicrobial glass to combat cold and flu. For now though, your best defense is to press the buttons with a pen.

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ss/slideshow public-germs?