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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Can polycystic ovary syndrome naturally conceive?
Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder characterized by reproductive dysfunction and abnormalities in glucose metabolism, with persistent anovulation, excess androgens, and insulin resistance as its main features. Therefore, patients with polycystic ovary syndrome often suffer from infertility. The use of medication to reduce androgens, stimulate ovarian ovulation, control insulin resistance, combined with weight loss, can lead to the resumption of ovulation in the ovaries, thus allowing natural conception in polycystic ovary syndrome.
The difference between polycystic and polycystic ovary syndrome
Some women may discover they have polycystic ovaries during occasional gynecological exams. If their menstrual cycle is regular, with good ovulation, and does not affect pregnancy, then it is just a polycystic ovarian state, not called polycystic ovary syndrome. Polycystic ovary syndrome primarily involves irregular menstruation, poor ovulation, and difficulty in becoming pregnant. The condition of polycystic ovary syndrome varies greatly among individuals; some show clear signs of high androgens or have laboratory tests indicating high androgen levels, and many people experience a significant increase in luteinizing hormone, among other symptoms. Therefore, these are two different conditions.
How to regulate polycystic ovary syndrome?
Firstly, patients with polycystic ovary syndrome should appropriately control their diet and engage in physical exercise to reduce or control their weight and reduce their waistline. Secondly, develop good eating habits with balanced nutrition, paying attention to the control of calories and fats. Those who are obese should control their diet appropriately, eat less fatty and rich foods, and avoid overeating. Consume more vegetables, fruits, and high-quality protein. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Thirdly, women who are trying to lose weight should not blindly use weight loss drugs and should avoid excessive dieting and rapid weight loss in a short period. Fourthly, exercise regularly, such as walking, jogging, playing sports, swimming, martial arts, practicing Wuxinqi (Five-Animal Exercises), and various forms of dance. However, avoid intense exercises and maintain a balance between work and rest. Fifth, maintain emotional stability and a positive mindset. Avoid extreme anger, depression, excessive tension, and long-term anxiety. Sixth, obese women with menstrual irregularities should take note: if the menstrual cycle is significantly prolonged, or if it occurs every few months or not at all, and if acne develops on the face, they should seek medical attention promptly. Seventh, reduce stress and maintain a good psychological state. Build confidence in treatment and be patient with the treatment process. Young female patients who are not treated have a very high probability of developing Type 2 diabetes in middle and old age, which can lead to infertility. Therefore, once this disease appears, behavior modification, dietary restriction, and exercise therapy should be combined, and, under the guidance of a professional doctor, coordinated with medication therapy. Eighth, doctors, family members, and spouses should actively encourage and support the patient in losing weight, providing psychological understanding and assistance.
Can polycystic ovary syndrome naturally conceive?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by symptoms such as amenorrhea, obesity, infertility, acne, and hirsutism. In cases of PCOS, the chances of natural conception are slim unless one regularly maintains a disciplined lifestyle, manages PCOS through exercise, weight loss, and a regulated life routine which normalizes hormone levels, thus enabling normal ovulation and the possibility of natural conception. Otherwise, a distinctive feature of PCOS is anovulation, and to achieve conception, hormone levels must be normalized. Once hormone levels are normalized, some individuals may ovulate on their own, while others may need medication to stimulate ovulation. Therefore, the chances of natural conception with PCOS are very low.
What foods are good to eat for polycystic ovary syndrome?
Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome must pay attention to their diet, as the characteristics of this disease include amenorrhea, obesity, infertility, acne, and hirsutism. Due to obesity, one should avoid eating large portions of meat and food that is high in fat and calories. Additionally, patients should check their fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, as the majority of these patients tend to have high blood sugar and insulin resistance. At this time, foods high in starch should be avoided. Dietarily, it is generally advisable to eat more green vegetables, fruits, and beans or bean products. Bean products contain estrogens which can counteract the high testosterone levels in polycystic ovary syndrome. Therefore, dietary attention is crucial. Besides focusing on diet, patients should also lose weight and reduce body weight through exercise, which helps in the recovery from the disease.
Can polycystic ovary syndrome cure itself?
Strictly speaking, polycystic ovary syndrome is a chronic disease, just like hypertension, which does not have concepts of being cured or healing naturally. It's just that symptoms vary from person to person, and the degree of impact differs. For example, some people have ovulation disorders, often characterized by sparse menstruation or amenorrhea; some have high androgen levels in the blood, often characterized by excessive hair growth and acne; others may have metabolic abnormalities, commonly manifesting as obesity. If patients adjust their lifestyles well, the long-term impact can be relatively minor, but this should not be considered self-healing.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Pregnancy Rate
For women who plan to conceive, their biggest concern is whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) will affect their normal fertility. Normally, reproductive-aged women develop a group of 3-11 follicles each month, which after recruitment and selection, typically only one follicle fully matures and ovulates, while the other follicles degenerate after reaching a certain stage of development. However, in patients with PCOS, the ovaries contain many small and immature follicles, often more than 12. The amount of follicle-stimulating hormone secreted by the pituitary gland is not sufficient to support the development of even one follicle, leading to anovulation and infertility. For patients with PCOS who want to conceive, the greatest risk is infertility. Patients can control their weight and regulate their menstrual cycles by adjusting their lifestyle, or by using medication to induce ovulation. Generally, more than 95% of patients can successfully induce ovulation and achieve pregnancy through medication. However, the success rate of achieving pregnancy through induced ovulation after 6 attempts is only 75% to 80%. Even for those who ovulate naturally, the success rate of conception within a year is only 82%. Therefore, it is essential to be patient, as hurried efforts will not yield immediate results in treatment.
What are the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome?
Polycystic ovary syndrome often begins in adolescence, with primary clinical manifestations including menstrual disorders, excess androgens, and obesity. First, menstrual disorders are the most prominent symptoms, often characterized by infrequent menstruation, with cycles ranging from 35 days to 6 months, or amenorrhea. Before amenorrhea, there may be scanty menses or infrequent menstruation. It can also present as irregular uterine bleeding with no regular pattern in menstrual cycle, period, or flow. Second, infertility. Women of childbearing age may experience infertility due to ovulatory disorders. Third, hirsutism is the most common manifestation of high androgen levels. It appears in varying degrees, primarily affecting sexual hair, with dense pubic hair showing a male pattern tendency, extending around the anus, groin, or midline of the abdomen. There may also be fine mustache hair on the upper lip or hair around the nipple. Oily skin is also common, related to the accumulation of androgens stimulating vigorous secretion from the sebaceous glands. Fourth, obesity. Over 50% of patients are obese, commonly exhibiting abdominal obesity. Fifth, acanthosis nigricans. Occurs in areas such as the labia, the back of the neck, armpits, under the breasts, and the groin, where skin folds are present. This is characterized by symmetric grey-brown pigmentation, thickened skin, and a soft texture.
How long does it take to cure polycystic ovary syndrome?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), like hypertension and diabetes, is a chronic disease that can be managed but not cured. The clinical manifestations of PCOS are diverse and vary from person to person. Some people have mild symptoms, such as slightly irregular menstruation without complete anovulation, which still allows for the possibility of natural conception. Additionally, if an individual pays close attention to adjusting their lifestyle and maintains a lean physique, the long-term health impact can be relatively minor. This situation cannot be described as self-healing or cured, but the impact of the disease is indeed not significant. Although PCOS cannot currently be completely cured, timely diagnosis and treatment of symptoms, along with consistent long-term management, can still make pregnancy and childbirth possible.
Can polycystic ovary syndrome recur?
Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome can manage symptoms effectively if diagnosed early, treated promptly, and receive active treatment for complications. However, if patients neglect daily care afterward, the disease is very likely to recur. Therefore, patients need to continue good nursing care after treatment to reduce the chance of recurrence. Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome need to pay attention to lifestyle adjustments: maintain a suitable living environment, change bad habits, and avoid staying up late; especially during long-term treatment, it is important to rest adequately, maintain physical strength, eat a nutritious diet, dress appropriately for weather changes, and avoid infections from bacteria and viruses. Diet should involve long-term restriction of calorie intake, choosing low-sugar, high-fiber options. A light diet rich in high-quality protein should be emphasized. Patients should quit smoking and drinking, and avoid high-sugar, high-fat, and spicy foods. The most important aspect is weight control. Patients should engage in aerobic exercises such as brisk walking, jogging, or swimming at least 5 days per week, each session lasting at least 30 minutes. Lastly, it is crucial to stabilize emotions, manage oneself, maintain an optimistic outlook, and avoid extreme anger, depression, excessive tension, and long-term anxiety.