How can medication help women with PCOS

PCOS is a chronic endocrinological condition that affects various facets of your health including your reproductive metabolic and psychological But with awareness early identification of symptoms and proper guidance it can be managedLifestyle modification dietary changes and exercise are the first line of treatment and are the most effective solution for the long term but some women may need medical management as wellDo all women with PCOS need medicationsShort answer no Depending on the womans symptoms medical history and any comorbidities a doctor can evaluate if medications are needed Some commonly prescribed medications are oral contraceptive pills or birth control pills metformin insulinsensitising drug and sometimes nutraceuticals like myoinositol supplement Some women with PCOS who arent able to conceive naturally after making lifestyle modifications can be prescribed ovulationinducing drugs to help stimulate ovulation and increase the chances of pregnancyMedications are not a bad thingTaking medications is often seen as a failure to manage PCOS this is not true One of the reasons why women hesitate to take medication is because they want to either manage it on their own or naturally But in PCOS sometimes treating the underlying hormonal imbalance may require more than just making lifestyle changes Taking medications can actually give you the time to make lifestyle corrections lose weight and follow a healthy routineMost medications prescribed for PCOS are only a temporary correction to help regulate hormones that are imbalanced These medicines help achieve the required therapeutic window which may not be achieved naturally for the patient Having said that taking medications is not a replacement for making lifestyle modifications Lifestyle changes with medications make the therapy the most effectiveWhat are the common medications for PCOSThere is no single pill or treatment method for PCOS Medications are usually prescribed to correct hormonal imbalances which can in turn mitigate symptoms like irregular periods weight gain hirsutism acne and scalp hair loss among othersOral contraceptives or birth control pillsApart from protecting from unwanted pregnancies oral contraceptive pills OCPs are effective in regularising period cycles and reducing male hormone levels OCPs dont make you infertile nor do they affect your chances of getting pregnant Once you stop taking it your ovaries are expected to function smoothly if the underlying cause of PCOS is managed by thenMetforminMetformin is a drug which is usually prescribed for diabetic patients to reduce blood sugar levels by improving the insulin sensitivity of the peripheral tissues muscles Since nearly 70 per cent of women with PCOS suffer from insulin resistance taking metformin can help reduce insulin resistance and thereby the production of androgens as well male hormones This can in turn help with weight loss reestablish regular periods and improve your chances of conceivingAntiandrogen drugsIncreased levels of androgens or male hormones can cause symptoms such as excess facial hair acne and scalp hair loss Antiandrogen drugs are prescribed to help reduce male hormone levels and improve the symptoms However antiandrogen drugs are usually prescribed after lifestyle changes and 6 months of oral conceptive pills course hasnt shown improvementsOvulation inducing drugsWomen with PCOS who have had trouble getting pregnant can be prescribed ovulationinducing drugs Letrozole is a widely used drug for the treatment of subfertility in women with PCOS and has been shown to be more effective than other medications such as clomiphene citrate Other medications such as metformin and gonadotropins can also help stimulate ovulationMedications form an important part of treating PCOS and there is nothing wrong with taking medications to manage your symptoms Although not all women may need it medications for PCOS are very effective in treating hormonal imbalances and help you get on top of your PCOS and manage it with greater confidenceDr Mansi Verma Gynaecologist at Veera Health Online PCOS ClinicAlso ReadShocking 40 per cent of India is infected with TB health experts share tips to stay safeThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever