Do you know what polycystic ovary syndrome is? If you’re a woman who’s having trouble conceiving, you’ve probably heard of it! What is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? The exact cause is still unclear. It is mainly due to endocrine disorders causing a series of symptoms, which mainly include the following three aspects:
1. Chronic anovulation, resulting in irregular menstruation or no menstruation.
2. Excessive androgens may lead to acne, increased body hair, hair loss and melanoma acanthosis.
3. The ovarian structure is abnormal. Ultrasound shows that there are many small follicles around the ovary.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common causes of female infertility. According to statistics, approximately 5 million women of childbearing age in the United States are currently affected. On the other hand, women with PCOS usually have insulin resistance. Their bodies can produce insulin, but cannot use it effectively. All the energy converted from glucose is turned into fat and accumulated in the abdomen, causing central obesity. Central obesity will further exacerbate the problem of insulin resistance and anovulation, forming a vicious cycle that will increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in the long run.
In addition, women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are overweight may develop gestational diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea and other diseases. The number one priority for improving PCOS is weight loss! Research shows that losing weight can reduce insulin resistance, improve metabolic syndrome, reduce androgens in the body, and even help restore normal menstrual cycles and increase the chance of pregnancy. In addition to cooperating with doctors' treatment, moderate exercise, diet control, improving lifestyle and reducing stress can break the vicious cycle of polycystic ovary and other diseases.
In addition, studies have found that PCOS may also cause sleep apnea, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other problems. Compared with ordinary women, women with PCOS are at least five to ten times more likely to develop sleep apnea. They are prone to poor sleep quality, waking up multiple times in the middle of the night, or daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and lack of concentration. These are typical symptoms of sleep apnea. If the above symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek sleep testing from a sleep specialist.
At present, the main treatment method for sleep apnea is to use "positive pressure respirator CPAP", which uses a built-in air motor to provide positive pressure airflow and enters the respiratory tract through the mask, so that the patient's respiratory tract can be kept open during sleep. If sleep problems are not treated, they may aggravate other symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome and lead to a series of diseases in the long term, including type 2 diabetes. In addition, women with polycystic ovary syndrome often have "insulin resistance", which will also greatly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition to receiving drug treatment, female patients need to make more efforts in diet and weight loss to improve sleep disordered breathing, which can also help improve polycystic ovary syndrome!
