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Treatment for Polycystic Ovaries
Now that we are clear about the nature of the condition, we know that we cannot talk about cure. There is no cure for polycystic ovaries. That statement is not a license for despair; far from it. The management strategy for polycystic ovaries is aimed at tackling the presenting features. This therefore has to be tailored to the individual. A woman with menstrual problems will have these dealt with and her treatment will differ from one presenting with inability to conceive.
Most issues that occur in polycystic ovaries can be effectively managed.
Obesity and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome:
There is consensus in that effectively managing obesity is the holy grail of managing
polycystic ovaries. However, this is the one problem that tends to pose the greatest
challenge both to the woman and her doctors. There is no magic bullet for this. The
basics of weight loss apply here just as well. These are a sustained restriction
of calorie intake and an equally sustained physical activity program. Successful
weight loss in polycystic ovaries tends to pay huge dividends. It can lead to a resolution
of many of the vexing features including menstrual irregularities and even sub-
Hirsutism with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Increased body hair and particularly facial hair is a real issue for any woman. Hormone treatment for this tends to have modest results at best and even these take a long time to be manifest. The best results for facial hair are obtained by using laser hair removal. Repeated treatment can achieve permanent results. Frustratingly for many women this treatment is beyond their financial means.
Infertility and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
As mentioned earlier, for those women with polycystic ovaries who are also clinically obese, achieving body weight reduction back to their ideal normal weight may be sufficient to get them to ovulate regularly, have regular periods and achieve conception.
Most women with polycystic ovaries, overweight or otherwise, who are struggling to conceive, do require medical help. There are two broad types of treatment. These are either medical or surgical. Occasionally, it is a combination of the two.
Medical treatment consists of ovulation induction medication. Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) is the most popular. This is very effective. However, there is increased risk of multiple pregnancy, usually twins.
