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Polycystic Ovarian Disease

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (POS) is now thought to be present in varying degrees in up to 30% of the female population.

POS is a diagnosis made in 5%-10% of women between late adolescence and the menopause. Multiple small cysts can form due to a hormone imbalance. Features of this syndrome include obesity, excessive body hair, acne, infrequent or absent periods and infertility.

Women with the syndrome, especially those who are overweight, have at least seven times the risk of heart attack and ischaemic heart disease of other women, and by the age of 40 years up to 40% will have Type 2 diabetes or an inability to breakdown blood glucose.

POS is associated with insulin resistance, with consequent high insulin levels in the blood and (frequently) high blood cholesterol and obesity.

Recent research has shown that good diabetes management aimed at reducing insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia (such as weight reduction and the administration of diabetes tablets) can not only reverse hormone abnormalities and infertility, but can also improve glucose, insulin and blood fat profiles.

The management of POS now includes patient education and attention to diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood cholesterol, obesity, physical exercise, glucose intolerance, high blood pressure and cigarette smoking.

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