Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

@DrMary_Alphonse  

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder of abnormal ovarian function with small cysts and hyperandrogenism in the women of child bearing age. This hormone imbalance causes the body to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder to get pregnant. The syndrome is named after the characteristic ovarian cysts which form in the ovaries.

Women with PCOS produce higher than normal amounts of male hormones, androgens.

The cysts observed on the lining of the ovaries are actually, immature eggs that have not matured enough to be ejected out of the body and hence are stuck on the ovary walls. This leads to an imbalance in the hormone levels of the body, leading to the rise of the androgen levels.

It is the most common health issue women face today, nearly 2% to 40% women within the range of 12 years to 45 years face this issue world over. Most of the symptoms of PCOS are caused by higher-than-normal levels of certain hormones, called androgens. The ovaries produce hormones, which are chemicals that control functions in the body.

Its primary characteristics include hyperandrogenism, anovulation, insulin resistance, and neuroendocrine disruption.

What are the main Symptoms of PCOS?

Most of the symptoms of PCOS are caused by higher-than-normal levels of certain hormones, called androgens. The ovaries produce hormones, which are chemicals that control functions in the body.

Its primary characteristics include hyperandrogenism, anovulation, insulin resistance, and neuroendocrine disruption.

Symptoms include:

• Menstrual irregularity - irregular or absent or heavy

• Infertility - Difficulty getting pregnant (because of irregular ovulation or failure to ovulate)

• Hirsutism - Excess body and facial hair. Unwanted hair growth due to increase in androgen hormonal levels

• Hair fall - Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair

• Acne with oily face

• Obesity - weight gain

Associated conditions include

• Type 2 diabetes
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Heart disease
• Darkening of skin - dark patches along body creases
• Depression and Anxiety

This disease is related to the number of follicles per ovary each month growing from the average range of 6 to 8 to double, triple or more.

What are the Risk Factors of PCOS?

• Risk factors include 
• Obesity
• Lack of physical exercise
• A family history of someone with the condition

How to Diagnose PCOS?

• Anovulation
• High androgen levels
• Ovarian cysts.
• Ultrasound - Cysts are detected by ultrasound in one or both ovaries
• Blood tests - low thyroid levels 
• Hormone tests - The lack of ovulation alters levels of estrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH. If you have PCOS, FSH would be lower than normal while LH would be higher. Similarly, Testosterone is a male sex hormone, which would be higher. Estrogen level as well as Androgen level would be high too. Progesterone levels are lower than usual.

What are the Types of PCOS?

There are four types of PCOS: 

• Insulin-resistant PCOS
• Inflammatory PCOS
• Hidden-cause PCOS 
• Pill-induced PCOS

How Homeopathy helps in PCOS?

• There are over 50 plus Homeopathy remedies that are available to treat PCOS.

• Homeopathy is based on Holistic methodology aiming at curing PCOS through the removal of the root cause.

• Homeopathy treats you as an individual and not just your affected or diseased parts. 

• Homeopathy does not just treat on the name of the disease but it looks for the root of the disease. Thus when the cause is removed from the body, the disease automatically goes away completely.

• Homeopathy corrects the hormonal imbalance naturally. Homeopathic medicines for PCOS treat the illness without any side-effects. 

• Since hormonal imbalance is the primary PCOS cause, homeopathy corrects it from the root. It regularizes the ovulation and restores the menstrual cycle.

• PCOS can be treated successfully through individualised homoeopathic medicine with lifestyle management.

https://drmaryhomoeopathy.com/

Stay safe and healthy!

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Uterine Fibroids: Causes, Risk factors, Symptoms, Complications and Prevention

- By Dr. Mary Alphonse  @DRMARY_ALPHONSE  

What are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are abnormal benign growths in the uterus that can develop during a woman's childbearing years. Also called as uterine myoma or leiomyomas or fibromyoma.

These tumors can become quite large sometimes causing severe abdominal pain and heavy menstrual bleeding.

They are usually made up of muscular or fibrous tissue of the uterus and blood vessels.

They usually develop in women over 30 years of age.

What are the Types of uterine fibroids ?

Fibroids are generally classified by their location. 

Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular uterine wall. 

Submucosal fibroids bulge into the uterine cavity.

Subserosal fibroids project to the outside of the uterus are the most common fibroids which can grow large at times and sometimes have a stalk that attaches to the uterus (pedunculated fibroid).

What Causes uterine fibroids?

Research studies indicate towards a genetic component involved.

Genetic changes. Many fibroids contain changes in genes that differ from those in normal uterine muscle cells.

Hormones. Estrogen and progesterone stimulate development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy, appear to promote the growth of fibroids.

Fibroids contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors than normal uterine muscle cells do. Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause due to a decrease in hormone production.

Other growth factors. Substances that help the body maintain tissues, such as insulin-like growth factor, may affect fibroid growth.

Extracellular matrix (ECM). Makes cells stick together, like mortar between bricks is increased in fibroids and makes them fibrous.

Uterine fibroids develop from a stem cell in the smooth muscular tissue of the uterus (myometrium). A single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue.

Who is at Risk for uterine fibroids?

Various factors can increase the risk of developing fibroids:

Age: Women aged 30 or older and up to menopause. After menopause fibroids tend to shrink if they’re present.

Family history: If a woman's mother had fibroids, her risk for fibroids increases.

Obesity: Women who are overweight are at higher risk for fibroids.

Other factors: 

• Onset of menstruation at an early age 
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Consuming a diet higher in red meat and lower in green vegetables

What are the Symptoms of uterine fibroids?

Many women who have fibroids are asymptomatic. In those that do, symptoms can be influenced by the location, size and number of fibroids.

The most common signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

Menstrual irregularities: abnormal, heavy, irregular, painful menstruation, or spotting

• Heavy menstrual bleeding: heavy bleeding between or during your periods that includes blood clots
• Prolonged periods: Menstrual periods lasting more than a week

Pelvic pressure or pain

Abdominal distension and cramping

Frequent urination or incontinence

Difficulty emptying the bladder

Constipation

Low back pain or leg pains

Pain during intercourse

Difficulty getting pregnant

How are uterine fibroids Diagnosed?

Physical examination: Fibroids are most often found during a physical examination felt as a firm, irregular (often painless) lump during an abdominal or pelvic exam.

Scans for confirming a diagnosis are:

• Ultrasound: Ultrasound uses sound waves to scan for fibroids.  

• Pelvic MRI: This imaging test uses magnets and radio waves to produce images allows to gain a road map of the size, number and location of the fibroids.

What are the Complications of uterine fibroids?

• Severe health consequences are rare in fibroids. However, heavy bleeding in women can lead to anemia.

• Rarely, large fibroids can press on the bladder and the ureter leading to kidney damage. 

• Other complications include infertility and repeated pregnancy loss.

How do Fibroids affect Pregnancy?

• Fibroids usually don't interfere with getting pregnant. However, it's possible that fibroids especially submucosal fibroids could cause infertility or pregnancy loss.

• Fibroids may also raise the risk of certain pregnancy complications, such as placental abruption, fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery.

How can Uterine fibroids be Prevented?

• Making healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a healthy weight and eating fresh green vegetables can decrease your fibroid risk.

• Avoid meats and high-calorie foods. Instead, opt for foods high in flavonoids, green vegetables and cold-water fish such as tuna or salmon.

• Reducing fat intake and increasing fiber intake helps to lessen the estrogen production and restore hormone balance, which may effectively combat fibroid growth.

• Incorporating more citrus fruits, red onions and leafy vegetables may also be effective against fibroid growth.

• A high-fiber diet helps improve bowel functions.

How Homeopathy helps in uterine fibroids?

• Homoeopathic remedies tend to balance the hormones, cure the fibroids and reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. 

• They are natural, effective, with no side effects and can be used even during pregnancy. There are more than 50 homoeopathic medicines for fibroids.

• Homeopathy therapeutics is based on identifying the individual as an entity and selecting the constitutional remedy according to your characteristic traits.

https://drmaryhomoeopathy.com/homeopathy