Shabnam Das Kar
Better: A centre of complete living, Canada
Title: Polycystic ovarian syndrome: Looking beyond prescription medicines
Biography
Biography: Shabnam Das Kar
Abstract
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a major cause of menstrual irregularities, obesity, and infertility in women. The diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is made if any two of the following three criteria are met: Androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, polycystic ovaries. Metabolic dysfunction (chronic low-grade inflammation, atherogenic dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension) is present in a large number of women with PCOS. Standard of care recommends lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, as first-line treatment for adolescent girls and women with PCOS. Oral contraceptives are recommended for women with menstrual irregularities. However, combined oral contraceptives may have deleterious effects on metabolism and lipid parameters in women with PCOS. Many women with PCOS have obesity, particularly central obesity. Weight loss in these women has been associated with better cycle control, higher ovulation rates, and improved cardiovascular risk factors. Though there is no consensus on the best diet for weight loss in women with PCOS, considering that insulin resistance is a major component of this condition, using a low carbohydrate diet can show better long-term benefits. Through my presentation, I will help practitioners add more tools to their toolkit. All these modalities help in dealing with the metabolic dysregulation of PCOS as well as fertility.