- Absent or irregular periods
- Weight gain
- Acne (spotty skin)
- Hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face and body)
- Difficulties getting pregnant
- Thinning of scalp hair
if your answer yes you may suffer from POC.
What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can also be known as the Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a condition that affects the ovaries.
What Causes Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
The actual cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is unknown; however current knowledge about the disease suggests that there are many factors that are important.
There is a tendency for polycystic ovary syndrome to be more common in people who have a close relative with the condition. The fact that the condition can run in families suggests that there is a genetic component to the disease.
There seems to be evidence linking polycystic ovary syndrome with higher than normal levels of a hormone known as insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. A lot of women with polycystic ovary syndrome have a problem known as insulin resistance. If somebody has insulin resistance they need higher levels of insulin to be released to control their blood sugar. This means their body is exposed to higher amounts of insulin than other people. One of the effects of these high levels of insulin is that the ovaries make too much testosterone. The high levels of testosterone are responsible for some of the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, including acne and excess hair.
If you are overweight, this can worsen the problem. This is because having excess body fat also makes insulin resistance worse, and so the levels of insulin in the body are increased even more.
Another hormone known as luteinising hormone is also raised in some women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Luteinising hormone also increases levels of testosterone in the body.
What Treatments are Available for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
There is no cure available for polycystic ovary syndrome. Treatment tends to be focussed on relieving the symptoms of the condition.
Treating Excess Hair
There a range of treatments available for treating the excess hair growth associated with polycystic ovary syndrome:
Hair removal treatments include electrolysis, laser/IPL treatment, hair removal creams, waxing and shaving. These treatments are only temporary and therefore need repeating at regular intervals. Laser and IPL treatment are not available on the NHS, and are quite expensive, however the results last significantly longer than with other methods.
Certain tablets can also help affect hair growth. These drugs work against testosterone, either by decreasing how much the body produces, or lessening the effect of testosterone in the body. The most common drugs used are:
The combined oral contraceptive pill. There a range of different combined oral contraceptive pills available but all of them will have some effect on excess hair growth.
These tablets usually take between 3 and 9 months to reach their maximum level of effect. If the tablets are stopped at any point then the hair will grow back.
We advise to combine hormonal therapy with IPL/Laser Hair Removal treatment which we provide in our clinic. WE achieve good, stable and satisfactory results. You will have a DISCOUNT if your diagnosis confirmed.
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to book your FREE consultation call 0161 969 4190 or email therapy@laserina.co.uk
