How to lose weight with polycystic ovary syndrome?

Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on November 17, 2024
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The characteristics of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) include amenorrhea, obesity, infertility, acne, and hirsutism. Most patients with PCOS are overweight, and such individuals definitely need to have their blood drawn again at the hospital to check their blood sugar levels and insulin for abnormalities. If the blood sugar is also high and there is positive insulin resistance, medication must be used to adjust the blood sugar levels. With normal blood sugar, weight loss can also proceed. Moreover, obesity being a characteristic of the disease itself, it generally can be managed through eating less and exercising more. One should avoid eating large amounts of meat, foods high in fat and calories, and instead consume more vegetables and fruits, as well as beans and soy products, particularly black soybeans used to make soy milk. It is essential to perform one hour of aerobic exercise every night before sleep, and one should definitely avoid staying up late. With these endocrine adjustments, normal body weight can be restored.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 8sec home-news-image

How to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome?

When suspecting polycystic ovary syndrome in females, it is essential to first inquire about the woman's menstrual history and menstrual cycle. A detailed observation of the woman's body type should be made, as some women may appear somewhat overweight and have increased body hair, such as small mustaches around the lips, and some may even have acne on their faces. In addition, a thorough physical examination should be conducted, including a gynecological examination, where some women may find an increased volume in both ovaries. Hormonal tests can also be conducted, showing elevated levels of androgens, or an imbalance in the levels ratio of luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone. Some women may exhibit insulin resistance, with abnormalities in blood glucose and lipid levels. Ultrasound examination can show many small follicles in both ovaries on the same plane, without a dominant follicle, and the number of small follicles generally exceeds 12.

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Written by He Bing
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 34sec home-news-image

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Pregnancy Rate

For women who plan to conceive, their biggest concern is whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) will affect their normal fertility. Normally, reproductive-aged women develop a group of 3-11 follicles each month, which after recruitment and selection, typically only one follicle fully matures and ovulates, while the other follicles degenerate after reaching a certain stage of development. However, in patients with PCOS, the ovaries contain many small and immature follicles, often more than 12. The amount of follicle-stimulating hormone secreted by the pituitary gland is not sufficient to support the development of even one follicle, leading to anovulation and infertility. For patients with PCOS who want to conceive, the greatest risk is infertility. Patients can control their weight and regulate their menstrual cycles by adjusting their lifestyle, or by using medication to induce ovulation. Generally, more than 95% of patients can successfully induce ovulation and achieve pregnancy through medication. However, the success rate of achieving pregnancy through induced ovulation after 6 attempts is only 75% to 80%. Even for those who ovulate naturally, the success rate of conception within a year is only 82%. Therefore, it is essential to be patient, as hurried efforts will not yield immediate results in treatment.

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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can polycystic ovary syndrome naturally conceive?

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder characterized by reproductive dysfunction and abnormalities in glucose metabolism, with persistent anovulation, excess androgens, and insulin resistance as its main features. Therefore, patients with polycystic ovary syndrome often suffer from infertility. The use of medication to reduce androgens, stimulate ovarian ovulation, control insulin resistance, combined with weight loss, can lead to the resumption of ovulation in the ovaries, thus allowing natural conception in polycystic ovary syndrome.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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The difference between polycystic ovary syndrome and polycystic ovaries

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and polycystic ovaries are different. Firstly, polycystic ovaries are diagnosed through ultrasound, wherein more than 12 small follicles are found in both ovaries simultaneously under ultrasound guidance. This condition can occur in some normal women as well as women who have been taking short-acting birth control pills for a long time. In subsequent check-ups, this condition might not be detected. On the other hand, polycystic ovary syndrome is a disease represented by a cluster of clinical symptoms. For instance, women may experience infrequent ovulation, longer menstrual cycles, and it can also lead to infertility. There are also manifestations of increased androgen levels, such as increased body hair and facial acne. Polycystic ovary syndrome primarily affects a woman's normal fertility functions and thus requires treatment; whereas, polycystic ovaries usually just require observation.

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Written by He Bing
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What are the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome?

Polycystic ovary syndrome often begins in adolescence, with primary clinical manifestations including menstrual disorders, excess androgens, and obesity. First, menstrual disorders are the most prominent symptoms, often characterized by infrequent menstruation, with cycles ranging from 35 days to 6 months, or amenorrhea. Before amenorrhea, there may be scanty menses or infrequent menstruation. It can also present as irregular uterine bleeding with no regular pattern in menstrual cycle, period, or flow. Second, infertility. Women of childbearing age may experience infertility due to ovulatory disorders. Third, hirsutism is the most common manifestation of high androgen levels. It appears in varying degrees, primarily affecting sexual hair, with dense pubic hair showing a male pattern tendency, extending around the anus, groin, or midline of the abdomen. There may also be fine mustache hair on the upper lip or hair around the nipple. Oily skin is also common, related to the accumulation of androgens stimulating vigorous secretion from the sebaceous glands. Fourth, obesity. Over 50% of patients are obese, commonly exhibiting abdominal obesity. Fifth, acanthosis nigricans. Occurs in areas such as the labia, the back of the neck, armpits, under the breasts, and the groin, where skin folds are present. This is characterized by symmetric grey-brown pigmentation, thickened skin, and a soft texture.