Is There a Cure for PCOS?

If you’re one of the nearly five million women in the United States with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), your first post-diagnosis question may be, “Is it curable?”

At Raveco Medical, our highly skilled providers specialize in the diagnosis and ongoing management of PCOS. While the condition isn’t curable, our OB/GYNs offer several treatment strategies to manage your symptoms and prevent them from getting worse.

Why you have PCOS

PCOS is a chronic condition that affects women during their reproductive years. The condition stems from an imbalance in the reproductive hormone testosterone.

While an essential hormone for men’s health, women also produce testosterone and other male hormones in smaller amounts. PCOS occurs when your endocrine system creates larger volumes of male hormones like testosterone and androgens.

The production of these hormones interferes with ovulation and results in heavy and irregular periods. Women with PCOS also experience a variety of unwanted and uncomfortable side effects of the imbalance in hormones, including:

• Acne
• Headaches
• Darkened skin patches
• Male-pattern baldness
• Excessive facial and body hair

For many women, PCOS also contributes to infertility issues that make it difficult to achieve or maintain a pregnancy.

Confirming a PCOS diagnosis

If you’re having issues getting pregnant or experiencing other symptoms of PCOS, our OB/GYNs can confirm a diagnosis during a comprehensive health evaluation.

Our providers review your medical history, current health, and the medications you take. You should also be upfront about changes in your menstrual cycle, including missed or heavy periods.

Blood work is an important part of the diagnostic process, so we can check for elevated androgen levels. We also complete a physical exam to identify areas of excess hair growth, skin discoloration, and recurrent acne breakouts.

During a pelvic exam, your physician will manually check for growths on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other reproductive organs. They may also order an ultrasound to get a closer look at these organs to identify unusual masses.

Long-term strategies to manage PCOS

Because there’s currently no cure for PCOS, our Raveco Medical team designs a treatment plan to manage your symptoms in the long term.

Initially, your plan might include lifestyle changes, daily exercise, and diet improvements to provide symptom relief. These changes can also make it easier to maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight or obese can trigger a worsening of PCOS symptoms.

When lifestyle modifications aren’t enough, our OB/GYNs might recommend PCOS treatments like:

Hormonal birth control

Hormonal birth control pills, patches, and implants can regulate your natural hormone levels to provide symptom relief.

Medications

If you have severe acne or experience hair loss, headaches, or other PCOS side effects, you may need to take over-the-counter or prescription medications to manage your symptoms.

Minimally invasive surgery

Our providers specialize in minimally invasive reproductive surgeries to remove abnormal growths that interfere with fertility. We may also recommend ovarian drilling, a procedure to make tiny openings in the ovaries to enhance ovulation.

During routine follow-up appointments, we ensure your symptoms are well-managed. Our OB/GYNs can also refer you to a specialist to explore your options for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility treatments.

Call or book online with us at Raveco Medical today at our practice in Woodside or Forest Hills, New York, to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for PCOS symptoms.