Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and Social Implications

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and Social Implications

Abstract

PCOS is recognized as a significant public health concern. That causes many emotional and physical complications. The objective of this study is to investigate the psycho social implications of polycystic syndrome. It outlines the psychosocial issues experienced by woman suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome. Several studies shows women with polycystic ovarian syndrome particularly with hirutism have an increased prevalence of minor psychological abnormalities and reactive depression. The presences of menstrual irregularities and hirutism especially in younger patients are very distressing and it tends to have a major negative effect on their psychosocial development. The management of such patients has evolved greatly over the past decades.

Table of contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Chronic diseases1

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome1

Signs and Symptoms2

Complications3

Results and discussion3

Statistics of incidence and prevalence of POCS3

Psycho -social challenges of the afflicted patient population4

Two research projects concerning poly cystic ovarian syndrome5

Successful community based programs that help in meeting the needs of the population6

Recommendations8

Conclusion8

References10

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and Social Implications

Introduction

Chronic diseases

The chronic diseases are diseases of a very long duration and are of slow progression generally. These include stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, asthma, diabetes; and cancer is so far the leading causes of mortality in the world. The Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is also a chronic disease. The word chronic is applied usually when the course of disease lasts for more than three months. The confirmed diagnosis of a chronic illness irreversibly changes the live of a person. The treatment may be complex and continuous with an increasing dependency on health care. This percentage of individuals being diagnosed with chronic diseases is growing at alarming rates (Bulun, 2011).

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is also known as functional ovarian hyperandogenism or Stein-Leventhal syndrome. It was first described in 1935. It is a condition exemplified by the imbalances of the sex hormones i.e. hyper androgenism (elevated levels of androgens) and ovarian dysfunction with polycystic ovaries (Knochenhauer, 1998). It is basically a reproductive age women endocrine metabolic disorder. It is often associated with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia and peripheral insulin résistance. With obesity Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome enhances other complications. Syndrome occurs in woman resulting in changes in the menstrual cycle (absent or infrequent menstrual periods also known as amenorrhoea), trouble getting pregnant, small cyst in the ovaries. The major cause of getting Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is elevated levels of sex hormones. Therefore the imbalances of estrogens, progesterone and androgens usually testosterone results in polycystic ovarian syndrome (Bulun, 2011).

Signs and Symptoms

Menstrual cycle fluctuations.

Usually absent periods, and having a history of more or may be one normal menstrual periods during Irregular menstrual cycles, may be less or additionally frequent, light or heavy monthly.

Secondary characteristic includes Deepening of the voice, Decreased breast size, Growth of increased body hairs mainly on chest, around the nipples, face and abdomen, swelling of the clitoris and Male pattern baldness i.e. thinning of the hair on the head. Other skin changes includes Worse acne, Insulin sensitivity causes thick or dark skin markings and ...