Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects 116 million women worldwide
[youtube] https://youtu.be/fCtNBFowoD4[/youtube]
Photo by Quay DeVoll
ZANESVILLE, Ohio- There’s a health condition that affects more people than Breast Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Lupus combined.
“Everyday is different. Everyday my body is different. Some days are victories,” Hayley DeVoll said.
“It’s a collection of symptoms that is very common. It happens in about 6-10% of women and it’s the most common cause of infertility,” Kristy Ritchie, MD said.
The condition is called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. The picture on the left shows polycystic ovaries. Picture on the right shows normal ovaries. A person suffering from PCOS has several tiny cysts in their ovaries.
“It typically is a collection of abnormal periods usually that happens because they don’t ovulate on a regular basics, meaning they don’t produce an egg every month. It’s not the same as having an ovarian cyst.This is just very small tiny little follicles that are not producing an egg the way that they are suppose to,” Dr. Ritchie said.
Hayley DeVoll, wife of WHIZ videographer Quay DeVoll learned that she had this condition after a visit to the doctor.
“It’s not something that’s a horrible condition but it affects my life. I possible can’t have children. It effects my day to day life too. It was pretty devastating but it’s something that I can control the effects of,” DeVoll said.
What causes PCOS isn’t fully understood, but experts think genetics is a factor. Right now, there is no cure, but treatment options are available.
“The number one treatment option is weight loss. Which is very hard to do with PCOS but we’ve found that if you can lose about 10% of your body weight, which is 20 pounds in a 200 pound woman. They you will likely start to ovulate again. That’s one of the keys, especially if you’re thinking pregnancy in the near future and reduce you’re risk of diabetes and heart disease,” Doctor Ritchie said.
“I try to workout as much as I can. Go for a walk even if it’s 5 minutes down the road. It’s something that helps. I also take medications Metformin and Clomid to up our chance of having a baby. But just try to eat healthy and try and exercise,” DeVoll said.
116 million women worldwide are affected by PCOS. The month of September is dedicated to raising awareness and educating the public about this life altering disorder.
