QuestionHello all,
So, I am single, 26 years old and had never been with any man. Eversince I can remember, my period had always been irregular. I went to an ob-gyne and she conducted transrectal ultrasound on me. She said I had polycystic retroverted ovaries. She put me on a pill and gave me some vitamins. Problem is, instead of easing away dysmenorrheal pains, it increases it. I dunno, just that I always manage to miss taking those pills. What bothers me though is that she told me to get married as soon as I can manage. Why, will my present condition affect my fertility?
thank you!
AnswerDear Maej,
I would suspect that you were diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Disease or Syndrome (PCOD or PCOS) and the retroverted part may be that you have a retroverted uterus - which means that your uterus tilts backwards toward the back of the pelvis.
PCOS is a very, very common cause of infertility. Now, whether or not that should push you into marriage would be a decision for you to make and not something I would hastily jump into (my opinion). But, yes the irregular menstrual cycles you have always experienced would be a classic sign of the PCOS and are the root of the infertility issue. Here is some information on PCOS:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health problem that can affect a woman's menstrual cycle, ability to have children, hormones, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. About one in ten women of childbearing age has PCOS and is the most common cause of female infertility (not being able to get pregnant). With PCOS, women typically have:
- high levels of androgens (male hormones- although females also make them)
- missed or irregular periods
- many small cysts in their ovaries
The cause of PCOS is unknown. Most researchers think that more than one factor could play a role in developing PCOS. Genes are thought to be one factor. Women with PCOS tend to have a mother or sister with PCOS. Researchers also think insulin could be linked to PCOS. For many women with PCOS, their bodies have problems using insulin so that too much insulin is in the body. Excess insulin appears to increase production of androgen. This hormone is made in fat cells, the ovaries, and the adrenal gland. Levels of androgen that are higher than normal can lead to acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and problems with ovulation.
PCOS symptoms often include:
- infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
- infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating
- increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes - a condition called hirsutism
- ovarian cysts
- acne, oily skin, or dandruff
- weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
- insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
- patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
- skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
- pelvic pain
- anxiety or depression due to appearance and/or infertility
- sleep apnea - excessive snoring and times when breathing stops while asleep
Because there is no cure for PCOS, it needs to be managed to prevent problems. Treatment goals are based on your symptoms, whether or not you want to become pregnant, and lowering your chances of getting heart disease and diabetes. Many women will need a combination of treatments.
- For women who don't want to become pregnant, birth control pills can control menstrual cycles, reduce male hormone levels, and help to clear acne. However, the menstrual cycle will become abnormal again if the pill is stopped.
- The medicine metformin (Glucophage) is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It also has been found to help with PCOS symptoms, although it is not FDA-approved for this use. Metformin affects the way insulin controls blood glucose (sugar) and lowers testosterone production.
- Lack of ovulation is usually the reason for fertility problems in women with PCOS. Several medications that stimulate ovulation can help women with PCOS become pregnant. For most patients, clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene) is the first choice therapy to stimulate ovulation. If this fails, metformin taken with clomiphene is usually tried. When metformin is taken along with fertility medications, it may help women with PCOS ovulate on lower doses of medication. Gonadotropins also can be used to stimulate ovulation. These are given as shots. But gonadotropins are more expensive and there are greater chances of multiple births compared to clomiphene. Another option is in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF offers the best chance of becoming pregnant in any one cycle and gives doctors better control over the chance of multiple births. But, IVF is very costly.
- "Ovarian drilling" is a surgery that brings on ovulation. It is sometimes used when a woman does not respond to fertility medicines.
- Keeping a healthy weight by eating healthy foods and exercising is another way women can help manage PCOS. Many women with PCOS are overweight or obese. Eat fewer processed foods and foods with added sugars and more whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats to help lower blood sugar (glucose) levels, improve the body's use of insulin, and normalize hormone levels in your body. Even a 10% loss in body weight can restore a normal period and make a woman's cycle more regular.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well and a Happy New Year.
Brenda
