Roughly 5 million American women suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), making it the leading hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age. PCOS causes an array of symptoms that can have a significant effect on quality of life — but fortunately, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help.
As a leading integrative medicine practitioner in Glastonbury, Connecticut, Anita Petruzzelli, MD, helps patients at BodyLogicMD manage PCOS symptoms with HRT tailored to each woman’s unique needs. Here, learn the basics of PCOS and how HRT could help you keep your symptoms under control.
PCOS involves abnormalities in the production and processing of both estrogens (“female” sex hormones) and androgens (“male” sex hormones). Often, this happens when there’s a disruption or dysfunction involving the ovaries, the pituitary gland, and an area of the brain called the hypothalamus (a structural relationship called the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis).
PCOS can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
Some women with PCOS also have enlarged ovaries or frequent ovarian cysts.
PCOS treatment usually involves lifestyle changes, like losing excess weight, increasing physical activity, and eating a healthy diet. But many women also benefit from medications, including hormone therapy.
HRT is widely used as a treatment for menopause symptoms, but it can also be helpful in managing symptoms associated with PCOS. The goal of HRT is to regulate and stabilize hormone fluctuations that trigger PCOS symptoms.
Women with PCOS have abnormally high levels of androgens. In men, these hormones are responsible for male sex characteristics.
In women with PCOS, they’re responsible for symptoms like acne and facial hair growth, and they can also interfere with ovulation and menstrual cycles. HRT focuses on balancing androgens to reduce these symptoms.
PCOS interferes with ovulation and disrupts the normal menstrual cycle, leading to symptoms that range from abnormal or heavy flow to variations in length and frequency of menstrual cycles. HRT helps regulate ovulation and stabilize menstrual cycles, reducing unpredictability that leads to challenging symptoms.
Infertility is a relatively common PCOS symptom, particularly infertility associated with ovulation problems. In addition to regulating ovulation, HRT helps establish a healthy reproductive environment that helps support conception and pregnancy.
PCOS is associated with weight gain, and weight gain increases the severity of PCOS symptoms. Losing extra weight is an important aspect of PCOS treatment, and while dieting and exercise can help, many women benefit from the added effects of hormone replacement therapy to improve metabolic activity.
PCOS is a complex medical condition that requires ongoing treatment to manage symptoms and improve overall health and wellness. For many women, HRT helps regulate hormonal drivers of PCOS symptoms, improving quality of life and potentially decreasing health risks associated with the condition.
If you have PCOS, HRT could be the solution you’ve been looking for. To learn more, request an appointment with Dr. Petruzzelli and the team at BodyLogicMD today.
