Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and its Treatment

Prof. Dr. Attar: “PCOS Patients Can Have Children with the Correct Treatment”

Gynecology, Obstetrics and In Vitro Fertilization Specialist Prof. Dr. Erkut Attar Drawing attention to the impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which causes ovulation defects in women, on women's reproductive health and he said ‘’ The Ovulation disorder seen in PCOS disease has a close relationship with patient’s weight. As weight increases, ovulation defects become more obvious. But not every PCOS patient experiences infertility; "When treated correctly, a PCOS patient is very likely to have children," 
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common diseases among women, paves the way for different health problems beyond the cosmetic problems it creates. Our Yeditepe University Hospitals Gynecology and Obstetrics and In Vitro Fertilization Specialist underlined that PCOS is one of the most important causes of ovulation disorders and naturally infertility.

“Women consult a physician due to Infertility”

Prof. Dr. Attar  said that the prevalence of PCOS in women varies between 5 and 25 percent. Dr. Attar continued his words as follows: “It is mostly known as the disease that causes ovulation defects. For this reason, women come to us with infertility problems due to ovulation defects, menstrual irregularities or decreases in egg quality. Besides theee, patients also contact us due to cosmetic defects such as hair growth, acne  and over-weight. However, these complaints are actually short-term symptoms of the disease. In the long term, the risk of uterine cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases increases in these women which is a much more serious condition. Therefore, it is very important to follow up PCOS patients throughout life.”

“A Professional Team is Needed to Diagnose”

Our Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist said that many reasons from genetic and environmental factors to obesity and from nutritional habits to hormone imbalance can be factors in the emergence of PCOS and gave the following information:
 “We see that those who get medical advice with this disease that is usually seen in the reproductive age do not have information about PCOS. Among the causes of the disease, genetic factors come first. This is followed by environmental factors. In addition, eating habits, obesity and hormone imbalances can also cause the disease to occur. Since PCOS symptoms can also be seen in many other diseases and are not well recognized and so that patients consult a physician late. It is not easy to diagnose and a professional team is needed to diagnose it. “We work together with endocrinologists, dermatologists and nutritionists to make the correct diagnosis and correct treatment of the disease.”

“Not Every PCOS Patient Experiences Infertility”

Our Specialist is underlining that approximately 50 percent of the problems related to ovulation defects are due to PCOS, but that these women can also become pregnant and he explained the relationship between PCOS and infertility and pregnancy as follows: “We cannot say that all PCOS patients have ovulation disorders. Therefore, PCOS patients can also become pregnant spontaneously. However, at this point the patient’s weight is very important. Because as weight increases, ovulation defects become more obvious. There is a serious relationship between the person's weight and infertility in these patients. For this reason, when the treatment begins, we first work with nutritionists to ensure proper nutrition and to get rid of excess weight if any. We aim for the women who reaches normal weight to become pregnant naturally without resorting to second-line treatment. In couples where the man also has problems, we can continue the treatment with vaccination. Sometimes we treat the patient with simple medications that increase ovulation without going for insemination. As can be understood, this process, in which personalized treatment is applied, can take up to 6 months. Therefore, the patient must be patient and not despair.”

“With the Correct Treatment, PCOS Patients Can Also Have Children!”

Prof. Dr. Erkut Attar said that "If treated correctly and there is no other cause, the probability of a PCOS patient to have children is very high," and he  noted the following about the treatments used in the disease:
“According to the current view, all infertility patients are referred to in vitro fertilization treatment if they do not become pregnant despite two or three inseminations. However, since the complication rate in in vitro fertilization treatment in PCOS cases is much higher than in other patients, care and effort should be made to ensure that these patients become pregnant by normal means before deciding on in vitro fertilization treatment. The most serious complication is a condition called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which can occur as a result of overstimulation of the ovaries. In this case, after the cracking needle is given, water begins to collect in the body cavities and the fluidity of the blood is disrupted, leading to electrolyte imbalance in the body. An excessive amount of fluid accumulates in the lungs and abdominal cavity and causes breathing difficulties. This situation is considered as three stages depending on its severity. Especially the third stage is a serious stage that requires intensive care. Therefore, it is appropriate for the in vitro fertilization treatment of these patients to be performed by experts in experienced centers.”