Our Services / PCOS

OB-GYN in McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Fort Worth, TX , McKinney, TX

PCOS

An estimated five to six million American women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS symptoms can be painful and affect your overall mental and physical well-being. Fortunately, Adam Shoman, MD, FACOG, MBA, and the team at Alliance Women's Health and Wellness, PC, offer skilled PCOS care to women in McKinney, Texas. PCOS can lead to abnormal periods, ovarian cysts, and infertility if left untreated. If you suspect you’re suffering from PCOS, call the office or book a consultation online today.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Many women discover they have PCOS in their 20s and 30s or when they have trouble getting pregnant.

Although the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, male hormone (androgen) excess is a potential cause. You also have an elevated risk of PCOS if family members have the condition.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

PCOS symptoms can affect more than just your reproductive health and may include:

Irregular or nonexistent periods
Abnormal amounts of hair on your face or other unusual places for women
Acne
Skin tags
Darkening of the skin near body creases or your groin
Weight gain or problems losing weight
Infertility
Cysts

Be sure to tell your provider at Alliance Women’s Health and Wellness, PC, of any health issues you experience, like depression, anxiety, diabetes, unhealthy cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or endometrial cancer. These various health problems often coincide with PCOS.

How do you diagnose PCOS?

At your initial consultation, your provider discusses your symptoms and medical history and then conducts a physical exam.

They check for an enlarged thyroid gland or skin and hair abnormalities. During a pelvic exam, they check for swollen ovaries or an enlarged clitoris.

They may recommend a blood test to assess your androgen hormone levels. This test can also identify if thyroid disease, diabetes, or a cholesterol imbalance is the cause of your symptoms.

Your provider may officially diagnose you with PCOS if you have overtly irregular or nonexistent periods, high levels of androgens, or several cysts on your ovaries.

What are the treatment options for PCOS?

Although there isn’t a cure for PCOS, various treatments can improve symptoms, including:

Losing weight through improved diet and exercise
Hair removal products or procedures
Anti-androgen medications
Hormonal birth control to reduce androgen levels and regulate menstrual cycles
Insulin-sensitizing agents that help with improving symptoms

If you have PCOS but want to get pregnant, your provider may encourage healthy weight loss, medication with ovulation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or minimally invasive surgery.

Call Alliance Women's Health and Wellness, PC, to learn more, or book a convenient consultation online today.