Women of reproductive age from any race or nationality can suffer from a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. This condition is perhaps the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, and it often causes infertility. The symptoms caused by the condition vary greatly; some women may have only a few while others are plagued by several debilitating effects. Ob-Gyn jobs increasingly involve diagnosing and treating this condition, and in most cases a reasonable outcome can be established for the patient. While the precise factors that lead to the development of PCOS are not fully understood, there is a strong genetic component to the condition.

Women must meet a few criteria to be diagnosed with PCOS, and their symptoms must be ruled out as stemming from other causes. Normally, two of the three following criteria must be met: (1) oligo- and/or anovulation, (2) hyperandrogenism (clinical and or biochemical), and (3) polycystic ovaries that are identified via ultrasound. The first number in this list means more basically either the absence of menstruation or irregular and/or heavy bleeding. Hyperandrogenism, for its part, refers to excess androgen in the body – this causes acne, excess hair growth that appears in a male pattern, and other unpleasant side effects for women. Finally, polycystic ovaries are ovaries with small growths called cysts – these can normally be seen by a physician using ultrasound to check the shape and appearance of the ovaries.

Researchers don’t know for sure what all the underlying causes of PCOS are, but they believe there is a very strong genetic component to the disorder. The evidence for this comes from the fact that the disorder runs in families; increased prevalence has been documented between affected women and their sisters, and between affected women and their mothers. Even the first-degree male relatives of women with PCOS have been shown to have significantly higher rates of elevated and circulating hormones that cause early balding and insulin resistance.

Women wondering what the most common symptoms of PCOS are should take notice – Most normally, women will recognize that something is amiss when they experience menstrual irregularities, acne, infertility, endocrine dysfunction, or other symptoms caused by excess levels of androgen. Every woman or teenage girl is likely to experience a late period or an outbreak of acne from time to time, but the occurrence of these in PCOS is much greater than the occasional time or two. Other indicators of PCOS include signs of excess androgen include hirsutism (having excess body or facial hair that is distributed in a male pattern), acne, and occasionally androgenic alopecia. For instance, some women may have more body hair than others, but women who develop thick, dark hair on the chin, chest, back, or abdomen may be experiencing the effects of too much androgen circulating in their blood.

Finally, there is also some association between insulin resistance and PCOS. For instance, even though obesity tends to make insulin resistance worse, both lean and obese women with PCOS have increased rates of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk when compared to weight-matched control groups without PCOS. Dyslipidemia is another result of PCOS. This is characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride levels, and total cholesterol. These changes increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in women with PCOS. Even if women are not bothered by the other symptoms of PCOS, hyperlipidemia is an issue of concern because it increases the risk for heart disease or stroke dramatically.

Any woman who suspects that her menstrual cycles are not regular enough or who experiences excess hair growth, excessive acne, or who has unexplained abdominal pain should speak with a qualified Ob-Gyn physician. Even if PCOS is not the cause for her symptoms, the Ob-Gyn should be able to accurately diagnose and then treat the cause of her discomfort. Women who are experiencing unexplained infertility can also benefit from the support and advice of an Ob-Gyn.

To learn more about ObGyn jobs, visit PhysEmp.com or call 800-267-6115. You can view more than 25,000 jobs in over 200 specialties, including family practice jobs, surgery jobs,medical director jobs, and more.

Always speak with your Ob-Gyn if you suspect you may have PCOS or a related problem. To learn more about ObGyn jobs, visit http://PhysEmp.com or call 800-267-6155. You can view more than 25,000 jobs in over 200 specialties, including family practice jobs, surgery jobs, medical director jobs, and more.

Author Bio: To learn more about ObGyn jobs, visit PhysEmp.com or call 800-267-6115. You can view more than 25,000 jobs in over 200 specialties, including family practice jobs, surgery jobs,medical director jobs, and more.

Category: Womens Interest
Keywords: ObGyn jobs, medical director jobs, women\\\’s health, surgery jobs, polycystic ovarian syndrome