PCOS Lifestyle and Prevention

If you have been having irregular periods and some of the other symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, please see your family doctor or an endocrinologist. Having infrequent periods is not just a nuisance; it can lead to complications like cancer of the uterus. Early treatment of PCOS can contribute to your long-term health and well being, and improve your quality of life. Polycystic ovary syndrome appears to be an inherited condition. If your mother or sister has PCOS, you may want to be checked for the syndrome. Monitoring your health is important if you have been diagnosed with PCOS.

If you are overweight, for example, you should have a test to check for your risk of diabetes. The routine fasting blood glucose test is inadequate to diagnose diabetes in all women with PCOS. Instead, the oral glucose tolerance test is considered the "gold standard" as a sensitive tool to assess your risk. This test requires several hours of monitoring your response to sugar.

Because of the possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with PCOS, you should have your blood pressure checked regularly. You should also monitor your levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), good cholesterol (HDL), and triglyceride levels. Vigilance is key if you are overweight.

Staying as healthy as possible is the goal. Try to stay on a healthy diet with adequate amounts of protein, as well as whole grains and lots of fruits and vegetables. Your reproductive endocrinologist or doctor should be able to suggest a healthy diet to follow.

Exercise regularly to keep your weight in check, improve your body's response to extra insulin, and reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Finally, be sure to find a specialist who will listen to you and answer your questions. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome sometimes have special concerns about their appearance that are directly tied to their condition. You and your doctor must act as partners to manage all aspects of this complex condition.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, most PCOS symptoms can be reversed or at least managed and your risk of complications greatly minimized.

Editors:
Ricardo Azziz, MD, MPH, MBA
Professor and Vice-Chair,
Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and
Professor, Dept. of Medicine The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Onno E. Janssen, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University

Last Review: January 2008