Male Hormones Can Go Crazy in a Woman
Has your weight started increasing for no reason? Polycystic ovary syndrome could be the reason.
Unusual physical changes, especially increase in body weight, can point to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (jlp)
If your weight has started increasing despite a steady diet, exercise regime and an unchanged lifestyle, something deeper might be the cause of your problem. The cause is most likely a hormonal imbalance, which also causes infertility. This syndrome combines three big branches of medicine: gynaecology, endocrinology and dermatology. In most cases, it’s easily handled with hormonal contraception.
The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome
The cause of PCOS is the absence of ovulation and hyperandrogenism (excessive production of male hormones). Often, we also see an increased value of insulin. The ovaries are bigger and contain a large number of small immature follicles which don’t manage to mature and thus change into cysts. The ovaries look the same in the case of multifollicle ovaries, but they are not accompanied with the lack of ovulation and with infertility.
The effects of PCOS can be relieved with hormonal contraception. (jlp)
The symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome
PCOS causes some real ovulation problems because the follicles aren’t developing normally. Menstruation is 
irregular or absent. We also see 
excessive hair growth on women and there are also other similarities with men, in exceptional cases (small breasts, greater muscle mass, lower tone of voice, baldness). Other signs are excessive weight, acne, oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea. A diagnosis can’t be made just on the basis of ultrasound and an examination. Blood tests of hormones have to be performed as well. They show if there’s an increase in the value of androgens and 
LH, which is higher than FSH.
It’s recommendable not to get pregnant during the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. (jlp)
The treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome
PCOS is treated with pills and a hypercaloric diet, which decreases body weight and the amount of insulin and androgens. Sometimes, a diet is all it takes for the ovulation to return. In case the amount of insulin is also increased, you also have to take pills which regulate the insulin levels. When you decide for a treatment, you have to know that you mustn’t get pregnant during the treatment because a medicine that contains androgens can cause irregularities on the foetus. When you want a pregnancy to occur, a medicine to induce ovulation is used - clomiphene and gonadotrophins. If the medicine doesn’t work, you can also get a laparoscopy, which has a 70% to 80% positive effect.
