Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder many women of childbearing age face. PCOS has three main features: irregular periods too much male hormone, and tiny cysts on the ovaries. PCOS symptoms can look different for each woman, but often include weight gain, acne extra hair on the face and body, and trouble getting pregnant.
Living with PCOS presents a big challenge, as it has an impact on the risk of other health issues, like type 2 diabetes high blood pressure, and heart disease. , patients have several options to treat PCOS, including changes in lifestyle, drugs, and sometimes bariatric surgery.
The Link Between PCOS and Weight Gain
Weight gain tops the list of common and tough symptoms of PCOS. The condition often goes hand in hand with insulin resistance, which can cause more fat storage and make it hard to lose weight. This can make other PCOS symptoms worse such as irregular periods and problems getting pregnant.
Keeping a healthy weight plays a key role in handling PCOS, as too much weight can make the condition worse and boost the chance of linked health issues. Yet, for many women with PCOS, getting to and staying at a healthy weight can feel like climbing a steep hill even with good food choices and regular workouts.
What’s Bariatric Surgery and How Does It Work?
Bariatric surgery also called weight loss surgery, is a medical procedure that helps very overweight people lose a lot of weight and keep it off. The most common kinds of bariatric surgery include:
- Gastric bypass: This surgery creates a small stomach pouch and connects it straight to the small intestine skipping part of the digestive system.
- Sleeve gastrectomy: This operation removes a big part of the stomach leaving a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach behind.
- Adjustable gastric banding: This method puts an adjustable band around the upper stomach making a smaller stomach pouch and cutting down food intake.
Bariatric surgery helps people lose weight by making the stomach smaller. This limits how much food a person can eat and absorb. The weight loss from this surgery can last a long time and can improve many health problems, including PCOS.
The Benefits of Bariatric Surgery for PCOS Symptoms
Bariatric surgery can help women with PCOS in many ways, not just with losing weight. Research shows that this surgery can:
- Boost insulin response and cut the chances of getting type 2 diabetes
- Balance monthly cycles and boost the odds of getting pregnant
- Ease other PCOS signs, like pimples and too much hair on the face and body
- Reduce the risk of heart trouble and other health issues tied to being overweight
What’s more shedding pounds through this surgery can lift a person’s spirits. It can make women with PCOS feel better about themselves, like how they look, and enjoy life more.
Research and Studies on How Bariatric Surgery Affects PCOS
Many studies have looked at how weight loss surgery changes PCOS symptoms and health. A big review in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2018 found that this surgery helped improve several important things related to PCOS:
- Regular periods
- Ability to get pregnant
- Male hormone levels
- How well the body handles sugar
- Weight (measured by BMI)
A 2015 study in Obesity Surgery tracked women with PCOS after they had bariatric surgery. The research showed that the surgery improved PCOS symptoms a lot. Patients saw less severe acne reduced excess hair on their face and body, and more regular periods.
This study, along with others like it, points to bariatric surgery as a very good treatment choice for women with PCOS. This is true for those who are dealing with serious health problems related to their weight.
Risks and Considerations of Bariatric Surgery
Although bariatric surgery has proven helpful for PCOS, you should know it comes with some risks. The surgery can lead to several problems and complications:
- Infections where the cut was made
- Not getting enough nutrients, like iron, vitamin B12, and calcium
- Getting gallstones or other gallbladder issues
- Dumping syndrome, which can make you feel sick, throw up, and have diarrhea
- Hernias forming
- Blood clots developing
You need to think hard about the good and bad sides of weight loss surgery with your doctors and make sure it’s right for you. Your doctor will also help you come up with a full plan to handle any problems or side effects that might happen.
Getting Ready for Weight Loss Surgery: What You’ll Go Through
If you and your medical team decide that weight loss surgery is the best option for you, you’ll have to take several steps to get ready for the operation:
- Comprehensive medical evaluation: Your doctor will check you out . This includes physical exams, blood tests, and mental health checks, to make sure you’re ready for surgery.
- Dietary and lifestyle changes: You need to change how you eat and live in the months before surgery. This means eating less, moving more, and stopping smoking if you do.
- Pre-operative education: You’ll go to classes to learn about the surgery. These will cover what happens during the operation how you’ll recover, and the new ways you’ll need to live after it’s done.
- Insurance and financial planning: Bariatric surgery costs a lot so you’ll need to talk with your doctor and insurance company to figure out what’s covered and how much you’ll pay for the operation.
Post-Surgery Lifestyle Changes and Support to Manage PCOS
After bariatric surgery, you need to dedicate yourself to lifelong healthy habits and continuous support to manage PCOS. This might involve:
- Dietary changes: You must eat a well-planned diet rich in nutrients. This ensures you get the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy and avoid deficiencies.
- Regular exercise: You need to make physical activity a part of your daily life. This plays a key role in keeping the weight off and controlling PCOS symptoms.
- Ongoing medical care: You should work hand in hand with your doctors. They’ll track your progress, help with any problems or side effects, and tweak your treatment plan when needed.
- Support groups and counselling: Joining a group of people with similar experiences or talking to a therapist can help you deal with the feelings and mind-related parts of living with PCOS.
Alternative Treatments for PCOS Symptoms
Although weight loss surgery can work well to treat many women with PCOS, it’s not the only answer. Other treatments that might help include:
- Lifestyle changes: A healthy diet regular exercise, and stress management can all have an impact on PCOS symptom control.
- Medication: Several drugs, including metformin, birth control pills, and anti-androgen medications, can help to balance hormone levels and ease PCOS symptoms.
- Supplements: Some supplements, like inositol, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, might also help to manage PCOS.
- Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine: Research indicates these alternative therapies might benefit PCOS patients to regulate menstrual cycles and boost fertility.
You should talk to your doctor about all your treatment choices to figure out what’s best for you and your situation.
Bariatric surgery can help women with PCOS especially those dealing with big weight-related health problems. The surgery can make you lose a lot of weight and keep it off, and it can also make many PCOS symptoms and health issues better. But you need to think hard about the good and bad points of bariatric surgery and work with your doctors to decide if it’s right for you. Things to think about include your overall health how bad your PCOS symptoms are, your history with weight, and if you’re ready to make the big lifestyle changes you’ll need to.
In the end, choosing to have bariatric surgery is a personal decision. You should pick the treatment that matches your needs and goals. With the right help and a promise to keep changing your lifestyle bariatric surgery can change the lives of many women with PCOS. At Global Medical Care, we know how hard it is to live with PCOS and how important it is to find the right treatment. Our team of skilled health experts aims to give personal full care to help you control your PCOS signs and boost your overall health. Get in touch with us today to learn how we can help you on your path to better health.
