Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is a hormonal disorder that often occur in young women. This disease can cause symptoms in the form of Menstrual disorders at puberty. If left untreated, PCOS in adolescents can lead to impaired fertility and various diseases.
PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a female reproductive disorder in which eggs cannot be released, masculine hormone (androgen) levels become excessive, and cysts appear in large numbers in the ovaries.
Until now, the cause of PCOS is not known with certainty. However, this disease is thought to be caused by impaired insulin function (blood sugar regulating hormone), an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and genetic factors.
PCOS often appears in adolescence. Not only causing menstrual disorders, PCOS in adolescents is at risk of causing fertility problems, anxiety or depression disorders, to heart disease and uterine cancer.
Unraveling More About PCOS Symptoms in Adolescents
Symptoms of PCOS usually appear at puberty, although some sufferers don't develop symptoms until adulthood. Symptoms that are often experienced by PCOS sufferers in their teens are menstrual disorders, such as irregular menstruation, late menstruation, or even no menstruation at all.amenorrhea).
The following are some examples of menstrual disorders that can occur in PCOS sufferers:
- No menstruation for 3 months, even though previously had menstruation.
- Long menstrual cycles (oligomenorrhea), namely getting menstruation every 3 months in the first year after the first menstruation, getting menstruation every 2 months in the second year after the first menstruation, or getting menstruation every 45 days.
- The interval between menstruation is less than 3 weeks, or menstruation occurs more than 7 days.
In addition to menstrual disorders, the increase in androgen hormones in PCOS can cause severe acne and the growth of a mustache, beard, or chest hair in women (hirsutism).
People with PCOS in adolescents can also develop obesity and a skin pigment disorder called acanthosis nigricans.
PCOS Treatment in Adolescents
The goal of treating PCOS in adolescents is to relieve symptoms. Therefore, the method of treatment depends on the symptoms that appear.
To reduce symptoms, patients are advised to change their lifestyle to be healthier, such as exercising regularly as much as 150 minutes per week, reducing consumption of sugary foods and drinks, and avoiding fast food consumption. This lifestyle can make insulin function in the body more effectively.
While the treatment methods commonly given by doctors to treat PCOS in adolescents based on their symptoms are:
Treatment menstrual disorders
To overcome menstrual disorders in PCOS sufferers, doctors can give combination birth control pills that contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Other drug options are hormone pills containing progesterone alone or patches (patch) which contains the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Treatmenthirsutism
Hirsutism can be reduced with combination birth control pills or drugs spironolactone. In addition to using drugs, PCOS sufferers can shave their hair, apply depilatory cream, do hair removal, etc waxing, or undergo laser therapy to remove unwanted hair.
Treatment pimple
The doctor can give you a combination of estrogen and progesterone hormone pills or pills spironolactone to inhibit androgen hormones that can stimulate acne. In addition to hormone pills, doctors can also give antibiotic creams to treat acne.
Although PCOS is not completely cured, there are several treatment options that can help reduce the symptoms of this disease. With proper treatment, PCOS sufferers can live a normal life.
Don't hesitate to consult a gynecologist if you or your teen experience menstrual disturbances, hirsutism, and severe acne. The doctor will determine whether the disorder is caused by PCOS or another condition.
Written by: dr. Akbar Novan Dwi Saputra, SpOG