Page 40 - Retail Pharmacy Assistants September 2020

38 WOMEN’S HEALTH FROM PAGE 37
stead if the diagnosis was made earlier through paying attention to symptoms described earlier.”
Usually a PCOS diagnosis is made through blood tests to check hormone levels such as testosterone or insulin glucose levels in the blood as well as metabolic health, including cholesterol, or via an ultrasound scan to determine whether the ovaries display multiple cysts, Ms Georgeou says.
The diagnosis isn’t straightforward because the condition is associated with many symptoms, and a woman doesn’t have to be diagnosed with all of them to have the condition.
Ms Georgeou cautions that PCOS can be difficult to diagnose, as an ultrasound may be inappropriate.
“An ultrasound could pick up polycystic ovarian changes, but it’s best a patient discusses this with their medical professional such as a GP or gynaecologist,” she said.
“Early diagnosis could help women so much in terms of health problems they could avoid early on such as metabolic issues, obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer and
sleep apnoea.
“At an earlier age the focus could
already be on treating symptoms in
a knowledgeable way and conveying to the girls how diet is a modifiable factor that can be used to effectively control the condition as well as regular exercise.”
Three-legged race to manage PCOS
Ms Georgeou says a woman could have period changes and be prescribed the oral contraceptive pill “to sort it out”,
or other therapies such as insulin- sensitising drugs, hormone therapies, weight loss drugs, antidepressants
and anti-anxiety drugs without knowing about the “three-legged race” to manage PCOS, which spans medical intervention, possibly with an endocrinologist, lifestyle and diet.
“There’s the lifestyle factor, which is all about sleep, regular routine exercise, managing stress, and having an eating plan to regulate insulin response because without this regulation a cascade of hormones is created that can trigger period irregularity and all the symptoms associated with PCOS’ hormonal changes.”
Ms Georgeou says a good place
to start is with a diet containing lean protein, good fats, low GI carbohydrates and fibre-rich foods from fruit and vegetables, as this can, among many benefits, help maintain a healthy weight and reduce sugar’s impact in the blood.
Also, of importance, she says, is ingestion of anti-inflammatory foods from green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, olive oil, almonds and walnuts to fatty fish, strawberries and oranges. It’s also advisable to choose foods with a low GI to keep blood sugars under control.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ms Georgeou said, “where someone is in their lifecycle
– it could be the older teenager with painful periods and battling acne;
it could be the lady in her 20s still experiencing acne, excess body
hair, and easy weight; or the older
lady in her 40s or 50s experiencing perimenopause, or menopause as well as rosacea and a broadening midriff – there’s always something that can be done to alleviate the condition.
“This means that a woman, at any stage in her lifecycle, should proactively manage PCOS symptoms the moment she notices them to avoid suffering unnecessary negative effects.”
Ms Georgeou says she knows what she’s talking about as a healthcare professional but also as someone who has personally experienced PCOS.
“The underlying insulin resistance made me feel so tired and I had such strong sugar cravings,” she said. “I also
had to deal with fluctuating weight or easy weight gain. Knowing my body type and having an appropriate eating plan designed to meet my health needs, as well as other interventions in combination with healthcare professionals made all the difference.”
PCOS and infertility
Ms Georgeou says infertility affects 40 per cent of women with PCOS. Around eight per cent of women who suffer from anovulatory infertility have PCOS, and interestingly, more than half of women with PCOS who are overweight or obese are at risk of negative IVF outcomes.
“Having PCOS can increase the risk of certain pregnancy-related complications such as miscarriage and gestational diabetes,” Ms Georgeou said.
“As to women who haven’t yet conceived and are looking at in vitro fertilisation, it’s important that they know how they can support themselves for success in their endeavours. Supports include diet and lifestyle modifications, as mentioned, with even a five per cent weight loss making a big difference.
I learnt this while running a fertility fitness program.”
She adds that it’s well-known that fewer embryos are found among low-weight and obese women, while maternal obesity is associated with slower embryo development.
“The better a woman’s body mass
RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • SEP 2020