[fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]

A PCOS and Weight Loss Fairy Tale:

Some say having kids is difficult, others say not having kids is more difficult.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) stops many women from easy conceptions and one patient sought support for medical weight loss from us at betterMD after years of infertility treatments, costing thousands of dollars, failed to produce a pregnancy. Her OB doctor told her it was worth a try. Nothing else had been successful.

Her initial weight was 226 pounds and her height, 5’5″, gave her a BMI of 38. After six weeks on our Total Meal Replacement program, she was down 31 pounds and won first prize at her local Curves location for most pounds and inches lost in 30 days. We told her she was using an unfair advantage! She commented that she had an unexpected period, and we told her to be aware of her increasing risk of conceiving.

After two months on the plan her total weight loss was 35 pounds. She “felt great when she exercised” and was diligently keeping her food diary. She switched to a new, lower stress job and started having a sense of nausea in the morning. Even though she didn’t believe it was possible, she knew it was time to take a pregnancy test. Two of two tests were positive. She was pregnant!

At her next office visit, her joy was slightly diminished by the realization that her weight loss program had helped her achieve in two short months, what she had spent years and uncounted dollars trying to accomplish. She thought I’d be mad, but she was wrong. I was thrilled for her and showed off pictures of my kids as we discussed hers!

She maintained her post-partum weight within a few pounds of her lowest adult weight and she and her baby are doing well. We were honored to be asked, but betterMD doesn’t deliver babies! We are blessed to see her smile and know what it truly means…
baby20081218e

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Infertility is commonly associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in women. It affects 7% of women of reproductive age and was first described in 1935. It is a progressive disorder of amenorrhea and/or dysfunctional uterine bleeding, hyperandrogenism symptoms like hirsutism and acne and central obesity. Obesity is seen in about half of PCOS patients and infertility affects 75%. Beginning in adolescence, this genetically linked disease causes multiple small cysts to form in the ovaries, hence the name, polycystic ovary syndrome.

Current research has shown that hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are major factors causing the imbalance of male versus female hormones in PCOS. PCOS patients are three times more likely to develop diabetes and in general PCOS women are the largest group of women at risk for cardiovascular disease. Endometrial cancer is increased in PCOS patients as well.

Medications are commonly used to promote fertility in PCOS patients seeking to conceive. They are effective in less than 50% of patients. Metformin is commonly used to combat the insulin resistance seen in PCOS and patients are urged to treat their cardiovascular risk factors since they commonly have metabolic syndrome as well. Additional treatments exist for the hirsutism and acne. The only treatment known to reverse the majority of the syndrome’s findings is weight loss. Unfortunately conservative methods are often ineffective in patients with marked insulin resistance. Rapid, medically-supervised weight loss programs have been shown to reverse the insulin resistance and re-establish normal menses.

Ultrasound studies and blood tests are commonly used to diagnose PCOS. There is no cure available. Weight loss and control of cardiovascular risks factors seems the best approach to reducing death from PCOS. Weight loss is a critical element in restoring fertility naturally and can often succeed when artificial methods for conception fail. If you think these symptoms describe your situation, talk to your doctor. Proper diagnosis is the first step to effective treatment.

This article was originally published in a broadcast of the Health-e-Thoughts Newsletter (distributed by betterMD.net on November 13, 2002)

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]