Many women have a condition known as polycystic ovaries (PCO).

How often is PCO found in women?

PCO is being seen with increasing frequency.. PCO affects women worldwide and can occur at any age before menopause. It can often go undiagnosed for months, because its symptoms overlap with so many other women's health concerns. PCO itself is not a disease and no one is yet sure what causes it.

What signs may indicate PCO?

* a halt to menstrual periods (amenorrhea) at any time prior to menopause age

* cravings for sweets

* obesity

* depression

* diabetes

* heart disease

* fatigue

* excess facial hair

* enlarged ovaries and many small (or large) cysts from underdeveloped eggs on ultrasound

What are some possible causes of PCO?

*Too many androgens. PCO is the end product of subtle hormonal interactions. A few cases may be genetic, but most are because a woman produces too many hormones known as androgens. This interferes with the production of eggs and can lead to infertility.

* Stress - especially guilt and fear about being a woman.

* Eating too many refined and sugary foods and drinking sodas

What self-care measures may work for PCO?

* Examine any negative childhood messages you may still be carrying around about being a fertile woman.

*Start a journal and chart your reactions to what you eat, your exercise and sleep patterns, your moods and menstrual periods, etc.

*Get out in the light---it's important to your health and ovulation.

*Eat three meals and two snacks a day of: fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits; organic soy products (soy milk, tofu, tempeh, soy cheese, soy meats); oily fish and other sources of essential fatty acids (salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, avocados, flax seeds, eggs); whole grain breads and cereals.

*Exercise at least 30 minutes a day to decrease stress and balance your body systems.

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Sources

Psychodynamic psychological correlates with secondary amenorrhea, Psychosomatic Medicine, volume 16, p. 129.

Functional disturbances in menstruation, Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, volume 7, p. 12

Psychogenic factors in anovulatory women, Fertility and Sterility, volume 13, p. 11.

Psychogenic factors in anovulatory women, Fertility and Sterility, Volume 13, p. 20.

Lunar periodicity in human reproduction, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, volume 77, pp. 905-14.

Chronic anovulation due to inappropriate feedback signals, The Merck Manual, 16th edition, pp. 1802-1804.

Challenges of treating dyslipidemia in patients with the metabolic syndrome, The American Journal for Nurse Practitioners, April, 2004, pp. 58-66.

This article is for information purposes only. For treatment consult your health care provider.