Polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical considerations.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most frequently encountered endocrine disorders occurring in women of reproductive age. Clinically, a patient usually presents with menstrual irregularities, infertility, and hirsutism. If not treated properly, a patient is at risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hyperestrogen-related cancers. The hallmark endocrine disorders of this syndrome are hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia. Great controversy exists as to which state precedes the other. There also appears to be a defect in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients presenting with polycystic ovary syndrome. Research consistently demonstrates that the first line of treatment for this condition is weight loss. Weight loss and dietary changes appear to affect all parameters of hormonal fluctuation. Due to the vast array of side effects associated with many pharmaceutical agents typically prescribed to treat PCOS, natural therapeutics including nutrient supplementation and botanicals may be a less invasive and equally effective approach. Due to the seriousness of this syndrome when left untreated, prompt evaluation and treatment is essential.
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D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
D000728:Androgens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005947:Glucose