Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is becoming a common factor pushing a weight loss surgery. Multiple research has proven that there is a strong connection between PCOS and obesity. Obesity entails many hormonal changes, e.g. imbalance of such reproductive hormones as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and insulin. Despite a many-year battle, a lot of people are not able to lose weight and for them, a weight loss surgery is the last resort in losing weight and overcoming PCOS. However, there are many things to consider before having an affordable gastric surgery for PCOS.
Will weight loss surgery cure PCOS?
PCOS is an imbalance of hormone which may cause e.g. a weight gain, irregular periods, acne, extra hair. However, according to many women, the most troublesome problems regarding PCOS is the excessive number of male sex hormones (hyperandrogenism) and ovulation problems like anovulation. A polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most frequent disorder of endocrine system. It is said that about 10% of women in a reproductive age have symptoms of PCOS. A great number of women with PCOS is obese. The studies performed recently have shown that overweight or obese women can eliminate or improve PCOS once they lose much weight, which can be achieved by a weight loss surgery. In the next parts of this article, we will focus on a weight loss surgery as a tool to cure PCOS.
Metabolic conequences of PCOS
PCOS women have a high prevalence of insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance, both precursors of diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance is difficult to measure but more than 50% of PCOS women, even as adolescents, have insulin resistance and they progress commonly to MS. MS is defined as a grouping of characteristics predisposing to coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. MS requires 3 of the following: central obesity, elevated triglycerides, decreased high-density lipoprotein, hypertension and elevated fasting blood glucose. Its prevalence in the general population is 25% and in PCOS women is 40%-50%. Even men who are relatives of PCOS women have a high prevalence of MS. Young PCOS women including adolescents have variable blood pressure. In menopausal PCOS women, the prevalence of MS doubles. From the medical point of view, it might be a simplification to say that PCOS women have a higher tendency for MS. Nonetheless, it is shown in the numerous studies that PCOS can be pathologically related to MS. In PCOS women, the gene and protein expression in omental tissue display differences in comparison to non-hyperandrogenic obese women, which suggests that there is a direct connection between visceral adiposity, PCOS, and MS. Women with PCOS have increased low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein, increased carotid intimal thickening, and increased fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. About 40% of PCOS women suffer from diabetes mellitus before they are 50 year old and it not always depends on their BMI. MS is particularly prevalent in adolescents with PCOS (about 40%) and even more prevalent in obese adolescents with PCOS (more than 60%). Obesity in young women makes the metabolic features of PCOS much worse.
Read more about diet after weight loss surgery.
Obesity problem in our society
Nowadays, obesity has become an epidemic. In spite of a common knowledge that weight control is significant, it is still among the most difficult morbidities to treat. The weight is defined by BMI and it is the standard tool for monitoring obesity and overweight. Undoubtedly, the balanced diet, physical activity, and generally a “healthy lifestyle” are the first and most important instruments for overcoming obesity and overweight. However, it is proven that these instruments are not effective when there is more than 10kg of the excessive weight. The other important factors influencing the weight loss effectiveness include a social environment as well as the support of family and friends. Also there are pharmacological treatments, but they are limited. For people with a high overweight and obesity, the mentioned methods of tackling the problem often fail and then, the only solution seems to be a weight loss surgery, e.g. gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or gastric balloon.
Studies show bariatric surgery can help PCOS
In recent years, there have been 6 extensive studies that indicate that a weight loss surgery results in a postoperative conception rate of 33% to 100 %. A bariatric surgery helps tackle such problems as hormonal abnormalities, amelioration of menstrual irregularity, and hirsutism that are characteristic of PCOS. What is more, the metabolic profile improves significantly. It is also observed that female fertility improves after a bariatric surgery. The studies publicated so far are very optimistic and promising as for curing PCOS by a weight loss surgery, however it needs to be said that the field of bariatric surgeries and PCOS are too young to draw unanimous conclusions and there is the necessity to do a further research in this area. The one thing is out of doubt, a weight loss surgery cannot worsen the condition of PCOS women, it may only improve this condition, or in the worst scenario, have no influence on it.
Learn about weight loss surgery and diabetes.
Your weight los surgery abroad
If you are overweight or obese and suffer from PCOS, you need to try losing weight. Doubtlessly, it will result in a significant health improvement. Firstly, you should change your diet and implement physical activity, only if it fails, you can consider a cheap weight loss surgery in Poland. However there is not much evidence that a bariatric surgery cures PCOS in 100% of patients, it is worth trying. You can only benefit from the surgery. PCOS can be significantly decreased or eliminated, your health will improve (e.g. blood pressure and sugar level will be brought back to normal), and you will become more attractive and confident. For sure, your health condition will change for the better, never for worse. If you cannot afford a weight loss surgery in your country, you are not left helpless. You can contact us and have the bariatric surgery in Poland – you will be provided with the excellent care at the highest standard and save much money at the same time. We are eager to help you organise your stay and surgery, so do not hesitate to contact us for more details!
Sources:
- www.verywellhealth.com/weight-loss-surgery-for-pcos-risks-and-info-2616484
- www.drmalladi.com/weight-loss-surgery-pcos
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3334389/
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Klaudia has been working for a medical tourism company as a patient advisor for years. She has been helping a lot of patients from the UK, the USA, Scandinavia and many other countries. She knows very well foreign patients needs and she does her best to help them.
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