Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately one in ten women in the United States and is a leading cause of female factor infertility. This condition has no known cure, and no current research has been able to explain the cause. Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome include weight gain, voice changes, male pattern baldness, anovulatory or missing menstrual cycles, insulin resistance and abnormal hair growth. Male pattern baldness and abnormal hair growth on the neck, chin, upper lip, cheeks, eyebrows, chest and back are some of the more noticeable symptoms of this condition and can be treated either medically or cosmetically.
What Is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormone imbalance. Since hormones regulate many bodily functions, it is no surprise that those hormones that govern hair growth are also affected by this condition. The symptoms of PCOS vary from woman to woman and may include hair growth and male pattern baldness. Testing for PCOS is done by an endocrinologist. The condition is tested by sampling hormone levels present in the blood. This testing can be done in conjunction with a menstrual cycle or, in the case of anovulatory or missing mentrual periods, at any time. Women with PCOS may exhibit elevated testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone levels and may have high blood sugar levels.
Testosterone and What It Does
One of the signs of polycystic ovary syndrome is an elevated level of testosterone in the blood. This is the cause of male pattern baldness and thinning hair in women as well as the abnormal body hair growth. This male hormone surge derives from the many cysts which appear on the ovaries of a woman affected by polycystic ovary syndrome. These cysts produce male hormones, which alter the natural balance of the body. The elevated androgen level may also cause oily skin and acne. Treatment for excess androgens can be medical, holistic, or surgical in nature and each woman will respond differently to these applications.
Treatment for Excess Body Hair
As PCOS has no cure, issues with hair caused by the disease may be treated cosmetically first. Many women opt for treatments such as shaving, waxing and laser hair removal to tackle the issue of excess body hair. The success of these treatments depends on the severity of the issue and does not treat the underlying cause. Long-term treatments include altering the diet, which can help address the balance of the body by tackling insulin resistance. A diet that is low in processed foods and sugars has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of PCOS.
Medications
Medication is often used to treat PCOS. Hormonal birth control is widely used to regulate menses and to increase estrogen levels to balance the androgens, and Vaniqua cream, which is available by prescription, can decrease the production of excess body hair. Anti-androgen medications such as spironolactone will block the production of androgens but should not be taken by women who are pregnant or planning to conceive. This medication will lessen the production of excess body hair and may reverse hair thinning or male pattern baldness. Propecia is also used to address male pattern baldness in women with PCOS, but should not be used by women who are trying to become pregnant. Since many women who are addressing their PCOS are doing so in hopes of conception, medications such as metformin may be used to combat the imbalance as well.
Surgery
Used as a last resort when a woman does not respond to traditional fertility medications, the process of ovarian drilling can bring on ovulation and lower male hormone levels. This procedure carries the risk of creating scar tissue on the ovaries and is used after other medical treatments have failed. The treatment may only last for a short period of time and is not widely recommended. Treatment including diet changes and medication is usually effective in reducing the symptoms of PCOS in most women.
Tags: pattern baldness, hair growth, male pattern, male pattern baldness, ovary syndrome, excess body