pcos (2)

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By Sasha Ottey
There is so much confusion surrounding PCOS, and there is quite a bit of debate going on in the medical community as well. In the US, there is an National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria for diagnosing PCOS; however, more recently, there is another proposed diagnostic criteria by the Rotterdam European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)/American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).Here is a breakdown of the NIH and Rotterdam diagnostic criteria for diagnosing PCOS:NIH Diagnostic Criteria:
  • hyperandrogenism ( including hirsutism, acne, and/or other classic symptoms caused by excessive male hormones) or hyperandrogenemia (excess male hormones being made but not necessarily presenting with the symptoms (for example hirsutism)
  • oligo ovulation (irregular ovulation - the frequency of or the decreased amount of normal egg maturation)
  • exclusion (ruling out) of other possible or like disorders or diseases
Rotterdam Diagnostic Criteria (after excluding other possible or similar disorders or diseases, two of three of the following:
  • oligo- or anovulation (irregular or no ovulation)
  • hyperandrogenism ( including hirsutism, acne, and/or other classic symptoms caused by excessive male hormones) or hyperandrogenemia (excess male hormones being made but not necessarily presenting with the symptoms (for example hirsutism)
  • polycystic ovaries
So, the major distinction between the NIH and Rotterdam diagnostic criteria is the emphasis on polycystic ovaries. The NIH diagnostic criteria did not require the presence of polycystic ovaries in order to diagnose PCOS, while the Rotterdam criteria strongly suggests polycystic ovaries as a diagnostic criteria.Who would not have been diagnosed with PCOS with the NIH criteria, but would be with the Rotterdam criteria?The NIH criteria is generally used in the US, and extensive research is being done on the Rotterdam criteria at this time.1 Azziz, Ricardo: The Rotterdam 2003 Criteria For Defining Pcos: Con (Or How To Define A Syndrome). http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jc.2005-2153v1.
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Yes it can. Women with reversible Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) are often not educated about the health risks associated with this condition. The risks, which include cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes, increase after menopause, according to a new study. [The study] published in the January 2007 edition of the journal Menopause, looked at 713 post-menopausal females, with 9.3% fitting the criteria of having PCOS. (1) The criteria for diagnosis included the presence of 3 or more of the following features common in PCOS: a history of irregular menses, hyper-androgenism (excess facial hair, male-pattern baldness), infertility or miscarriage, central obesity or Insulin Resistance. The study showed the prevalence of cardiovascular disease increased in women with 3 or more characteristics of PCOS. The most likely cause was the presence of Insulin Resistance, the root cause of PCOS. A reversible imbalance of insulin and blood glucose, Insulin Resistance leads to the body becoming insensitive to the insulin it produces, resulting in elevated circulating levels of the vital latter hormone. This, in turn, causes the hormonal imbalance and weight gain associated with PCOS. All these symptoms are risk factors for heart disease. The study highlights the importance of educating women about the condition. It is critical that all women realize the necessity of taking control of their health now and reversing PCOS, so that they do not suffer the future health risks associated with this condition.(1) Krentz AJ, von Muhlen D, Barrett-Connor E., Searching for polycystic ovary syndrome in postmenopausal women: evidence of a dose-effect association with prevalent cardiovascular disease. Menopause. 2007 Jan 19 PMID: 17245231Dr. Shackelton is a founding partner of Insulite Laboratories. She directs research and development of the formulas comprising the four Insulite Systems and those in development. Her study of the biochemical and physiological reasons for weight gain led to her focus on Insulin Resistance – the abnormal response of insulin to glucose - and its growing number of related conditions. www.pcos.insulitelabs.com

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