In the recent years, one of the most common medical terms heard by the female population all over the world today is “Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome.” Everyone knows of it, but most women fail to understand what it really is. What is the cause of the sudden increase in the incidence of this disease? Is it just a coincidence or has it really been on the rise in the past couple of decades? To understand this condition better, let’s decode PCOS.
What is PCOS?
Quite literally, when the ovaries develop cysts on them, the condition is called ‘Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease’ or ‘Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)’ – a vast umbrella under which many symptoms are considered, such as:
- Menstrual irregularities
- Hirsutism (excessive facial hair growth)
- Mood swings
- Pigmentation of the skin
- Dryness of skin
- Hair fall
- Acne
- Weight gain
- Early insulin insufficiency
What are the causes of PCOS?
So far, there is no clear understanding of what the real cause of PCOS is. Most researchers claim the stresses and ways of an urban lifestyle is a major contributing factor. This may be true as the incidence of the condition is seen more amongst the urban population than rural women. It is also more common amongst the younger population of women (15 – 35 years of age) than the older (above 35 years) and has been on a considerable rise for about a couple of decades. Stressful lifestyle, poor and unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical exercise, environmental pollutions and hereditary, all play a part in the incidence of this condition.
How does one diagnose PCOS?
For a patient, any or all of the above-mentioned signs & symptoms should raise an alarm. However, it must be noted that not all patients may experience all of the symptoms. Broadly, patients should be alarmed when there are any menstrual irregularities coupled with abnormal growth of facial hair and/or sudden weight gain. To clinically diagnose the condition, the following investigations are helpful:
- Ultrasound (sonography) of the pelvis
- Blood tests to check the levels of blood sugar and various hormones
In most cases, the ultrasound helps to establish the presence of multiple cysts on the ovaries and the imbalance of the hormonal levels in the blood will further ascertain the diagnosis.
What are the long-term risks of PCOS?
The most important long-term risk is complications in conception and pregnancy and other hormonal disorders.
What is the treatment for PCOS?
The conventional treatment for PCOS is hormonal therapy. Commonly, oral contraception pills (OCP) are prescribed to regularize the menstrual cycle. However, use of OCPs and other hormonal therapies are known to have their own side effects which may be irreversible in the long run.
What is the role of Homeopathy in PCOS?
Conventional medicine believes PCOS to be a purely physical disorder where the pathology is seen in the ovaries. Homeopathy believes every chronic disorder to be a combination of emotional, physiological and physical components. When treating PCOS a skilled Homeopath will consider the physical signs and symptoms, physiological state of the body, emotional health and social well-being of the person; and only after carefully studying these, will a prescription be made. A detailed case history is imperative for an accurate Homeopathic prescription. Only when the person is healed holistically, is when we are able to achieve results for a chronic ailment like PCOS.
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