Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Woman's Guide to Identifying & Managing PCOS

Title page......Page 3
Contents......Page 5
Figures......Page 8
7.3 Insulin and LH both stimulate the ovary to make testosterone......Page 179
How do I control and prevent insulin resistance?......Page 170
7.1 The impact of IR and excessively raised insulin levels......Page 165
6.1 Basal body temperature chart (BBTc)......Page 138
Summary......Page 122
5.4 Endometriosis......Page 113
5.3 Pelvic causes of abnormal bleeding......Page 110
5.2 The effect of weight change on testosterone and menstruation......Page 89
5.1 The effect of diet and insulin on free testosterone......Page 88
4.3 The contraceptive Pill and CPA......Page 78
Which hormonal tests should I have?......Page 69
4.1 Hair follicle......Page 61
Does insulin resistance affect PCOS?......Page 57
1.4 Control of follicular growth in the ovary......Page 28
1.3 The hypothalamic-pituary-ovarian axis......Page 27
1.2 The location of the endocrine glands......Page 22
1.1 A normal ovary and a polycystic ovary......Page 16
Tables......Page 9
7.8 Jenny’s initial hormone results......Page 183
7.7 Kathy’s baseline blood test results......Page 181
7.6 Examples of GI-rated foods......Page 177
7.5 Glucose tolerance test 5 results......Page 169
7.3 Glucose tolerance test 3 results......Page 168
7.1 Glucose tolerance test 1 results......Page 167
Do PCO and PCOS affect pregnancy outcomes?......Page 156
6.5 Danielle’s blood test results......Page 153
6.4 Types of FSH therapy......Page 149
6.3 Katie’s blood test results......Page 146
6.2 Nathalie’s blood test results......Page 143
Do I need contraception?......Page 126
5.4 Examples of Synacthen test results......Page 108
5.3 Jessie’s blood test results......Page 96
5.2 Clinical and hormonal data (expressed as averages) from the ‘thousand cases of PCOS’ research......Page 91
5.1 Menstrual regularity of women in the ‘thousand cases of PCOS\' research......Page 90
4.5 The effects of oestrogen and testosterone on skin......Page 68
Do hormones affect the skin and hair?......Page 67
4.3 Average blood results......Page 66
4.2 The Marynick acne scoring system......Page 65
Why is my face breaking out all the time?......Page 64
3.2 Sheep clover disease and human PCOS......Page 55
3.1 Results of ultrasound scanning for PCO......Page 49
2.3 Beth’s blood test results......Page 41
2.2 Quick guide to what blood tests for PCOS might reveal......Page 39
2.1 Basic blood tests for menstrual irregularities......Page 38
1.2 The main functions of the sex hormones......Page 26
1.1 Factors influencing levels of SHBG and free testosterone......Page 24
What is a polycystic ovary?......Page 15
What is polycystic ovary syndrome?......Page 18
How does the menstrual cycle work?......Page 20
Summary......Page 29
Frequently asked questions......Page 31
2 Looking for signs: PCO and PCOS diagnosed......Page 33
How can doctors see an ovary?......Page 34
Do I have polycystic ovaries?......Page 35
Do I have polycystic ovary syndrome?......Page 36
Summary......Page 43
Frequently asked questions......Page 44
Are my genes to blame?......Page 46
Summary......Page 58
Did it happen before I was born?......Page 53
Is it my brain hormones?......Page 52
Do I have too many male hormones?......Page 51
Why does hair grow or not grow?......Page 60
How do you treat hair and skin problems?......Page 71
Summary......Page 83
Frequently asked questions......Page 84
5 Counting the days: Menstrual irregularities......Page 86
Why do many women with PCOS have a menstrual problem?......Page 87
What else causes menstrual irregularities?......Page 94
What can I do to control menstrual problems?......Page 115
Frequently asked questions......Page 123
6 Producing results: Fertility issues......Page 124
Am I infertile?......Page 125
Frequently asked questions......Page 159
Summary......Page 158
But what if I want to have a baby?......Page 136
7 Taking the sugar: The diet and insulin story......Page 162
What is insulin resistance?......Page 163
What surgical procedures are available for weight loss?......Page 184
Frequently asked questions......Page 186
8 Protecting yourself: Potential long-term health issues......Page 188
What is my risk of osteoporosis?......Page 189
What is my risk of cancer?......Page 190
What is my risk of heart and blood vessel disease, and diabetes?......Page 191
Frequently asked questions......Page 192
9 Tapping into the future: Potential new treatments......Page 194
What will research unveil?......Page 195
What is your final summary?......Page 197
Glossary and abbreviations......Page 200
References and further reading......Page 207
Useful websites......Page 215
Index......Page 220