PCOS

Androgen hormones

Androgen hormones (English: Androgen) male hormones, but they are produced in the body of the female and male alike, and hormones androgens play a different role in both the body of the female and male, where the hormones androgen responsible for the emergence and development of male and female characteristics in the male, The male hormone secretion of the most important group of hormones androde is testosterone (Testosterone), while the adrenal cortex secrete other androgen hormones in small amounts, where the hormones and other Androgen act to support the function of testosterone.

As for the role of hormones androgens in the female body are excreted in a few amounts before puberty, and when adulthood is the secretion of larger amounts of hormones androgen, which leads to the emergence of hair in the region of the armpit and pubic, and these hormones many other functions in the body of the most important woman to be converted to Female hormones.

Naturally, the hormones of androgen are secreted in the body of the man more than is secreted in the body of the woman, and the occurrence of any imbalance in the proportion of these hormones, whether increase or decrease leads to the emergence of a defect in the body; when less than the secretion of hormones androgens in the body of women occurs lack of desire of women Sexual and atrophy of the breast gradually, and stop the cycle Republic, and this is what happens naturally in the body of women when they reach menopause, where the secretion of hormones androgen from the cortex of the adrenal gland and ovaries.

Increasing the secretion of hormones in the body of women in the appearance of women aesthetic, and cause problems in the psychological and health, as the increase levels of Androgen hormones lead to an increase in the appearance of unwanted hair on the body and face, and the emergence of acne, which generates a sense of confidence in women Anxiety, and frustration. Increased body androgen increases the insulin resistance that may predispose diabetes to other health problems.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, with 6-10% of women with this syndrome.

PCOS causes hormonal imbalance in the body of the woman, increasing the proportion of hormones androgen and estrogen, causing many problems. The high rate of androgen leads to interference with the development of ovarian follicles prevailing, and the rise of estrogen leads to the interruption of ovulation (English: Anovulation). In addition, PCOS is the most common cause of hairiness or excessive hairiness in women (Hirsutism).

Symptoms of PCOS

One of the most common symptoms of women with PCOS:

Acne.
Many women with this syndrome suffer from infertility.
Irregular menstrual cycle, and vary from one woman to another; some suffer from the lack of the number of times of the menstrual cycle each year, and some suffer from the absence of the menstrual cycle, and there are others suffering from the density of blood descending in the menstrual cycle.
Difficulty in losing weight, and about 50-60% of women with polycystic ovaries are obese.
The hair grows on the woman’s body in the chest, back and abdomen, and the nature of the facial hair is darker and more intense than usual.
Depression.
8% of women with PCOS have type 2 diabetes.
Change in tone of voice as it becomes rough.
Hair loss in the head area.

Diagnostic criteria for PCOS

According to the criteria of the Rotterdam Convention in 2003 and the standards of the PCOS and the increase in androgen levels for 2010, the definition of PCOS includes the following: A woman with two of the following three points is diagnosed with the syndrome:

Lack or lack of ovulation, this is identified by irregular menstrual cycle.
Increase the percentage of androgen in the body by performing laboratory analysis.
Polycystic ovaries, where this is detected by making an ultrasound television image of the pelvic area.

Diagnosis of PCOS

The symptoms of the patient are identified first, the clinical examination of the presence of excess hair, the examination of blood pressure, and the length and weight of the patient to calculate the body mass index. It is also possible for the doctor to observe through the clinical examination swelling of the ovaries in the pelvic area , Or see a swelling in the clitoris, and may ask the doctor to do some tests, such as blood test to determine the proportion of sex hormones in women, and examination of thyroid hormones, and the examination of sugar and lipids in the blood, and should work sonar to the pelvic area; to detect the presence of polycystic ovaries , Except for any other problems.

Treatment of PCOS

It is necessary to treat polycystic ovary syndrome to lose the patient excess weight by changing the system of her life by exercise, and a healthy diet, as many of the women with this syndrome benefit from losing excess weight, so this step to restore balance to their hormones and regulate their menstrual cycle .

It is worth mentioning that smoking leads to an increase of hormones androgen in the body, so stopping smoking is also an important step in treatment.

Contraception can reduce the symptoms of the syndrome If you do not have the syndrome you intend to conceive, the doctor can also prescribe metformin pills to regulate the menstrual cycle.

If the patient wants to be pregnant, the elimination of excess weight along with the intake of clomiphene citrate (Clomiphene citrate) can help the patient and increases the chances of pregnancy.

The surgical solution can be achieved by piercing the ovary with a small needle connected to an electrical current to destroy part of the ovary in order to promote ovulation, reduce levels of androgen hormones in the woman’s body, and a surgical solution is a short-term solution.

Causes of high androgen hormones in women

There are many health problems that may cause an increase in the secretion of androgen in the body, including problems in the adrenal gland responsible for the secretion of the amount of androgen along with the ovaries, and the problem of increasing the rate of androgen is one of the most common problems for which women – who are still in their reproductive age – Endocrine, and health problems that can be exposed to the body of women and cause an increase in the secretion of Androgen hormones:

PCOS.
Take drugs containing androgen as Danazol.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Cushing’s syndrome.
Differentiated tumors of androgen, such as ovarian tumors and adrenal glands.
Hypothyroidism.