Polycystic Ovaries and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
When talking about these medical conditions it is very easy to be confused about what the difference is between. Polycistic ovaries, also referred to as PCO is very common, affecting around 20-30% of women. It describes ovaries that contain many small cysts, usually no bigger than 8 mm each, arranged just below the surface of the ovaries. These cysts are egg-containing follicles that have not developed properly due to a number of hormonal imbalances.
You would think Polycystic ovary syndrome also referred to as PCOS is simply the term used when a person is suffering from polycystic ovaries, but it does entail a bit more. It is the name given to the condition in which women with polycystic ovaries also have one or more additional symptoms.
What are the symptoms of PCOS?
- Irregular or lack of periods
- Irregular or no ovulation at all
- Reduced Fertility
- Difficulty in becoming pregnant
- Recurrent miscarriage
- Unwanted facial or body hair (hirsutism)
- Thinning hair or hair loss from the scalp
- Weight problems i.e. being overweight, rapid weight gain, difficulty in losing weight
- Depression and mood changes.
Polycystic ovaries can affect women in different ways. Some women may suffer from only some of these problems, where as some may suffer from all of them, also the gravity of the symptoms are varied. Usually they start in adolescence, but some women can develop them in their early or mid -twenties.
What Causes PCOS?
The symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome care usually triggered by imbalances in some, or all of the hormones that control the menstrual cycle.
The three types of hormones that are produced by the ovaries during ovulation are called – oestrogens, androgens and progesterone. These 3 hormones are regulated by two other hormones produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (Luteinising hormone).
The imbalances that can cause Polycystic Ovaries May include: Above normal levels of LH, Androgens and oestrogen, and below normal levels of FSH and Progesterone. The main androgen that can cause an imbalance and results in many of the symptoms of PCOS is testosterone.
This hormone is often thought of as a “male hormone” but this is not the case, testosterone is produced by all women from the ovaries, it is testosterone that gets converted into oestrogen, which is the main female hormone. Women with PCOS may produce higher than average amounts of testosterone that doesn’t all convert into oestrogen. It is also thought that another hormone – Insulin – may be involved. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas for glucose regulation in the blood. Many women with PCOS have been found to have a condition known as insulin resistance. This causes the body to produce excessive insulin to compensate; this then affects the ovaries, causing them to produce an imbalance of hormones.
Other triggers or causes may be linked to PCOS:
- Hereditary – some women can inherit a greater chance of having PCOS.
- Diet
- Lifestyle,
- External Factors – Exposure to certain substances in the environment.
Although Doctors do not yet fully understand what causes these hormonal imbalances. There may be several different causes which could explain why different women have such different symptoms. Much research is still going on in this area. Coping with Skin and Hair Problems at The Angel Laser Clinic. At The Angel Laser Clinic, we can help you with coping with some of the symptoms of PCOS.
Excessive Hair Growth
At The Angel Laser Clinic we can help you with coping with some of the symptoms of PCOS. We understand that the type of hair that usually comes with having the condition can be in visible areas like the face or neck and can be quite dark and course.
Traditional hair removal routines can be annoying, painful and expensive over time. Shaving may last a day, waxing a couple of weeks, but none of them last forever and that’s the reason you can benefit immensely from Laser. We have invested in the most innovative laser technology that presently exists in the market with the Cynosure Elite workstation.
As a matter of fact, you can achieve great results from having PCOS because usually the type of hair that grows is ideal (course and dark) for the Elite to deliver maximum results. To eliminate hair, the laser emits gentle pulses of energy that pass through the skin to the hair follicle. This energy is then absorbed into the hair follicle to destroy it so that hair can never grow there again.
Skin Concerns
Women who have polycystic ovaries commonly suffer from a number of skin conditions, like acne, acne scarring, pimples and oily skin. Acne in PCOS sufferers is usually found around the face (especially along the jaw line), chest and back.
At The Angel Laser Clinic we can help to improve the condition of the skin in various ways including; Medical grade facials, Chemical peels / Dermaroller for the acne scarring.
Hair Loss
Some women who suffer from PCOS can begin to see excessive hair growth on in other areas of the body/face and notice a reduction of hair on the head. For this we use Dermaroller on the scalp with a hair stimulating serum that helps to stimulate hair growth again.
All of these methods are dependent on the gravity of the skins condition. Our Practitioners can asses each individual skin and create a tailor made program using one or a combination of treatments.