Dr. Nalini G Shetty

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the condition when a woman's sex hormone levels get imbalanced. This can cause women to have irregular periods and may also have an impact on their fertility. Women suffering from PCOS also tend to grow small cysts in their ovaries which can also lead to severe health problems like diabetes and heart disease, if left untreated.

What causes PCOS?

The exact cause of PCOS is not known. However, the condition may be triggered by hormonal imbalances and genetic factors. Women are more susceptible to developing this condition if their mother or a female family member also has the condition. Excessive production of androgen, which is a male sex hormone, may also lead to this condition. Women suffering from PCOS tend to have high levels of androgen. The formation of eggs and their release during ovulation can be delayed by high levels of androgen. High androgen levels may result from excess insulin present in the blood. Poor lifestyle and irregular eating habits contribute to obesity which intern leads to increased insulin resistance and hence delayed ovulation and irregular cycles leading to infertility.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

The type of symptom in case of PCOS varies from person to person. Since PCOS is characterized by low levels of sex hormones, this condition may lead to symptoms such as:

1. Excessive hair growth on stomach, face, chest, toes and thumbs
2. The breast size starts to shrink
3. There is a change in voice, making it deeper
4. There is excessive loss of hair from your scalp
5. Sometimes the face is filled with acne and the skin turns oily
6. There are fertility problems like having trouble in ovulating or recurring miscarriages
7. Frequent depression or mood swings
8. Facing breathings problems while sleeping
9. Obesity

Diagnosis

On examination, findings in women with PCOS may include the following:

• Virilizing signs
• Acanthosis nigricans
• Hypertension
• Enlarged ovaries: May or may not be present; evaluate for an ovarian mass

Management

Lifestyle modifications are considered first-line treatment for women with PCOS. Such changes include the following:

• Diet
• Exercise
• Weight loss
• Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacologic treatments are reserved for so-called metabolic derangements, such as anovulation, hirsutism, and menstrual irregularities. First-line medical therapy usually consists of an oral contraceptive to induce regular menses.

If symptoms such as hirsutism are not sufficiently alleviated, an androgen-blocking agent may be added. First-line treatment for ovulation induction when fertility is desired are letrozole or clomiphene citrate. [2, 3, 5]

Surgical management of PCOS is aimed mainly at restoring ovulation. Various laparoscopic methods include the following:

• Electrocautery
• Laser drilling
• Multiple biopsy

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Light periods refer to menstrual periods that have very light flow and are characterized by a lesser number of days than usual. Although the menstrual cycles vary from a woman to another, the duration for a normal period is around every 28 days. Each period lasts for approximately four to seven days. The amount of blood loss in a normal period is around 20 ml to 80 ml. However, loss of blood below 20 ml can be considered as light periods.

The causes of light periods can vary for different woman. Some of them are:

- An imbalance in hormone levels in the body like PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease).

- Light periods are most common in women who are approaching menopause. This is because, at this time, women tend to produce less estrogen, a hormone responsible for regulating menstrual periods.

- Light periods can be common in girls who have just started to menstruate.

- Excessive bouts of exercise, a thyroid condition or an eating disorder can be also responsible for light periods in women.

- Women who use hormonal or oral contraceptives may also have a chance of experiencing light periods.

- An important cause of scanty menses is implantation bleeding. That means sometimes, despite being pregnant, little amount of bleeding can happen at the expected time of menses in the first three months of Pregnancy. So it's important to rule out pregnancy at the earliest.

Related Tip: All About Irregular Periods - Their Types and Causes