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Simon Aylwin
London Endocrinology
How to treat PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is diagnosed by looking at the ultrasound changes in the ovaries, the presence of too much testosterone in women, as well as an irregular menstrual cycle, explains endocrinologist Dr Simon Aylwin.
Transcript
We diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome by looking at ultrasound changes on the ovaries, the presence of features of too much testosterone in women, excess hair, for example, high levels of testosterone in the blood, and thirdly, the presence of irregular menstrual cycle. Now having diagnosed it, we then turn to treatment. Let me tell you how we think about treating polycystic ovary syndrome. Well the key to this is to try to work out what the problem is that that person is actually experiencing. Somebody who's got irregular periods that wants to become pregnant, may want one form of treatment to help their periods become more regular and to ovulate. Another individual might be concerned about the excess hair they're experiencing, facial and other areas on the body. Then we want to turn our attention to trying to suppress the excess testosterone in the body or stop it being effective. And other individuals will be more concerned about their other elements of polycystic ovary syndrome which is related to abnormalities in metabolism, and that includes a tendency to increased weight, changes in the glucose, possibility of diabetes and cholesterol.