Thread by @DrAtangwho

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: What you need to know

Affected women usually experience;
🔸menstrual disorders
🔸inability to ovulate &
🔸symptoms of excess male hormones ( such as too much facial hair & acne)

A thread 🧵

{Share for awareness & to stop the stigmatization!}

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone-related disorder.

It affects around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, & nearly 25% of women who undergo ultrasound scanning.

The exact cause is not known. But it remains a major cause of infertility in women who don't ovulate.

Patient with PCOS may experience;

🔸 infertility
🔸absent or reduced menses
🔸recurrent miscarriages
🔸high BP
🔸type 2 diabetes
🔸overweight
🔸higher risk of heart disease &
🔸hirsutism i.e. excess facial & body hair

In fact, some may show none of these symptoms (asymptomatic)

The ovaries of a patient with PCOS usually contain many tiny cysts which can be detected on ultrasound.

To further confirm PCOS, your doctor may have you do some blood tests to check your hormones (e.g. androgens), fertility profile, blood sugar level & others.

To treat PCOS, lifestyle advice is crucial;
🔹diet
🔹exercise &
🔹lose weight

Other possible interventions;
-Anti-adrogens for hirsutism
-Drugs/surgery for ovulation
-Drugs to regulate periods
-Drugs for diabetes & high BP
-Acne pills &
-Topical hair removers like Eflornithine

So, how can you cope with PCOS?

🔷Foods to eat🔷
- high-fiber vegetables & fruits
- lean protein e.g. fish
- anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric & tomatoes

🔴Foods to avoid🔴
- refined carbohydrates, like white bread
- sugary snacks
- fizzy drinks
- processed & red meats

As a PCOS patient, ensure you;

* Get regular exercise: at least 150 minutes of exercise every week

* Maintain a healthy weight: your dietician & doctor can help you attain your weight goals, &

* Control your blood pressure, blood sugar & cholesterol, possibly with medications

Can a woman with PCOS have babies? Of course!

We know PCOS patients may struggle to become pregnant & are at higher risk of having pregnant-related complications.

But many of them can get pregnant & become happy mothers with healthy babies if they manage their symptoms.

Lastly, the rest of us must stop stigmatizing PCOS patients & start supporting them instead.

They didn't choose their genes; they didn't choose to be fat, have facial hair or acne.

They're normal human beings like any other person. And we must respect their human dignity too.

@trending_medic @RealDreylo @wakawaka_doctor @DrZobo @healthertainer @aproko_doctor @DoctorEmto @drpenking @KelvinOssai @TWEETORACLE @SomtoSocial

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