PCOSinfo.com

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

The most common medical “treatment” for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is Birth Control Pills. The reason the word treatment is in quotations is because the use of Birth Control Pills for the successful treatment of PCOS is debatable. Doctors prescribe them in hopes of regulating a woman’s cycle, and reducing ovarian cysts. The use of Birth Control Pills are also supposed to lower the overall testosterone production from the ovaries (which can reduce a lot of PCOS symptoms)

Pro’s:

Regulation of your cycle: This is a huge pro! Doctors recommend having at least 4 periods a year (a period every 3 months) to keep yourself healthy and to reduce your chance of endometrial cancer. This is a huge concern for PCOS women because the lack of monthly/regular periods.

Contraception: Which is not usually a need/preference of PCOS women!

Decreased testosterone levels: Decrease in facial hair, hair loss, acne/oily skin, and the other symptoms that come from increased testosterone levels.

Decrease of other reproductive conditions: Ovarian and breast cancer, uterine fibroids, ectopic pregnancies, PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), excessive menstrual bleeding and PMS.

Cons:

Worsen PCOS symptoms: There have been studies suggesting that the use of Birth Control Pills in women with PCOS can actually worsen the condition by causing further hormone imbalance, increased insulin resistance, and weight gain.

Serious health risks: The Birth Control Pills themselves come with health warnings and risks. These include: stroke, spotting, breast tenderness, headaches, nausea and worsening of gall bladder disease. (all of which are worse for women over the age of 35 and for those who smoke)

Not all women can use Birth Control Pills: Women with a history of blood clots, breast cancer, impaired liver function, coronary artery disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding, and those who smoke heavily should avoid Birth Control Pills at all costs.

So, what do you want your treatment to accomplish? Reduction in ovarian pain? Regulation of your cycles? Or are you trying to conceive a baby? Determining your needs/future plans will help you decide on treatment.

Please keep in mind that Birth Control Pills are not the only treatment for PCOS. There are plenty of treatment options that will be reviewed in the upcoming posts.

Tags: heal, health issues, managing pcos, pco, pcos, pcos + birth control, pcos and birth control and missed periods, pcos and severely painful periods, pcos support, pcos testosterone, pcos treatment, sexual health, treating pcos, treatment for pcos, treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome, women health, women's health