Local News Channel talking about PCOS...
From: Randi (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 26 Feb 2003 08:04:03 -0600 (CST)
Hey Ladies -
Last night I was going through the TV channels and came across a news
channel for a neighboring state (PA). They were talking about PCOS and
interviewed a few different women and doctors...thought I'd post the
link here for everyone so you can read it if you'd like. Sometimes the
links don't work, so I'll post the transcipt as well.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/02252003_sr_pcos.html
--
Randi
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Tonight on Action News at 11, a healthcheck special report on a disorder
changing the lives of many women – but most never know it. It may show
up as obesity, thinning hair, acne, an irregular monthly cycle, and
difficulty having a baby. Often, even doctors tell women it's their
fault.
Suzanne Rinato/Mount Holly, NJ: "He basically told me, you're the
problem. He blamed me."
But the right diagnosis can turn life around.
Suzanne Rinato/Mount Holly, NJ: "I lost 70 pounds, my hair completely
stopped falling out."
Find out what this condition is, how to detect it – and how to treat it
– in a special report tonight – Only on Action News at 11.
Thousands of women suffer from a disorder that affects the way they look
and feel, and even whether they can bear children. And in many cases,
doctors have been unable to pin down the cause.
Suzanne Rinato/MT. HOLLY, NJ: "I had a big problem with gaining weight
for years. I had hair where I didn't want it, you know, on my face."
As a teenager, Suzanne Rinato struggled with her weight and too much
facial hair. Then there was the acne and messed-up menstrual cycles.
But her doctor back then didn't give her any answers, just birth control
pills to regulate her period.
Suzanne Rinato/MT. HOLLY, NJ: "And he basically told me, you're the
problem. He blamed me, lose weight. Uh, he said, well so, you're
hairy.... Wax."
Suzanne later learned she has PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a
disorder that throws the body's hormones into a nasty cycle.
Women with PCOS produce more insulin than their bodies can handle. They
gain weight, and the extra insulin also makes the ovaries over-produce
testosterone. It interferes with menstrual cycles and can keep women
from getting pregnant. The male hormone also thins hair on the head,
yet makes it grow thicker in unwanted places!
Anywhere from 5 to 10% of premenopausal women struggle with the
disruptive symptoms of PCOS, and the numbers are growing. What's worse-
the syndrome can set them up for future health problems like diabetes,
heart disease and cancer.
Most don't know WHAT'S wrong until they want to start a family.
Ellen Hemple/BRIDGETON, NJ: "We had been trying to have a baby for over
a year, and nothing was happening." Ellen Hemple was referred to Dr.
Chung Wu, a fertility specialist, who suspected PCOS, and recommended an
insulin test.
Ellen Hemple/BRIDGETON, NJ: "I thought, do your test, but that's not
going to be me." To her surprise, the test confirmed she has PCOS. Once
that was under control, she got pregnant with daughter Amy. Specialists,
like Dr. Katherine Sherif, believe genetics are a factor in PCOS.
However, she blames the rise in cases mostly on our way of living.
Dr. Katherine Sherif/DREXEL COLLEGE OF MED.: "We have become very
sedentary and we eat too many carbohydrates."
Treating PCOS usually starts with medication, like Glucophage, to
improve the body's insulin use. Dr. Sherif often sees dramatic
results.
Dr. Katherine Sherif/DREXEL COLLEGE OF MED.: "Every week, I have a call
from a patient who's pregnant."
Suzanne Rinato/MT. HOLLY, NJ: "I lost 70 pounds. My hair completely
stopped falling out."
Healthy eating, and exercise are a must for dealing with PCOS. But Dr.
Wu says any old exercise won't do.
Dr. Wu: "When you exercise, you have to enjoy, and not add additional
stress."
He believes stress in itself can raise insulin levels, and Dr. Wu is a
big advocate of meditation and prayer to keep stress under control.
If you're a woman who might have undiagnosed PCOS, don't delay in
seeking a specialist's help. One place to start might be with a
reproductive endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in both hormones
and fertility.
--
Randi
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