November 30th, 2007
by Angi Ingalls
PCOS in ConnecTion
When you live with endometriosis, you expect pain at the most inopportune times. Once I was walking down the aisle of a store and was immediately impeded by sharp stabbing pains in my leg and vagina. Imagine me leaning against a display of paper towels trying to regain composure; now imagine most of them all on the floor and my ‘whatever’ expression.
Sometimes I’d be sitting at work, doing my job and it would hit – in the middle of a phone conversation – and would find the phone hanging from my desk. Once I bumped into someone I hadn’t seen in awhile, literally, from the immense amount of pain that took my legs away. The expression on that woman was priceless. She didn’t know what to do or say. “Well, next time I see you, I promise, no concussion.”
I wonder how many other women with endometriosis have to keep on hand some witty comebacks for times like these, i.e. “Oh, man, sorry, I was so mesmerized by your presence it threw my feet off their train of thought.” I mean, how do you recover from something like that while saving face and protecting the other person from feeling awkward? Ok, I have my note pad and pen in hand…. I’m ready and listening!
As a women with endometriosis (Stage 1), I can empathize with women who share this diagnosis. Not only do I suffer with endometriosis but I also have some residual nerve pain from a past episode with Shingles. I live with pain, partially from the Shingles, that is amplified by my endometriosis. In my case it was discovered during a laparoscopy in 2001 that my endometriosis has attached itself to my uterus, rectum and nerves around my vagina as well as some other nerves leading to other areas of the body. During the laparoscopy I also had an ovarian drilling and all of the endometriosis removed. I am happy to say that I had no excess pain for a few years.
But, slowly over the years, I have returned to my previous state.
Endometriosis is a serious disease that develops in 5-20% of reproductive age women [1] and many women with PCOS also suffer from endometriosis. The severity of the disease does not determine the amount of issues one might have. Endometriosis is a disease that affects each person in a different way. There are four stages of endometriosis: stages 1 to 4, referring respectively, as minimal, mild, moderate and severe. Your staging does not determine the amount of pain that you may feel. Women in any stage can experience no pain at all or mild to severe pain.
Not only can endometriosis create pain, it can increase scar tissue that can affect the function of reproductive organs such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries, increase issues with cysts as well as other surrounding structures including the bladder and bowel. Endometriosis can even leave the reproductive area and attach itself throughout the body.
There are a few options [2] and like dealing with PCOS, with every patient, treatment success varies. It is important to do all of your homework and research on what might be or what might not be an option for you. Also, consider how these treatment options may affect PCOS. Having both endometriosis and PCOS may be difficult to deal with and not yet completely understood but with the power of information and a doctor well-educated in both of these conditions, you can come out a better, healthier you.
Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
Guest PCOS writer
pcosinct@yahoo.com
Educator for over 18 years
Diagnosed in 1985 at 12, living with PCOS since 1981
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article/reply and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. Information obtained is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
——————————————————
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis#Treatments; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis#Treatments; http://www.endometriosis.org/treatment.html http://www.endometriosis.org/treatment.html
November 28th, 2007
By Dr. Andrea Lee
A British study conducted by the London Women’s Clinic links lesbianism with polycystic ovaries. The study, by Dr. Rina Agrawal, involved examining 618 women who sought fertility treatment, among them 254 were lesbian women and 364 were heterosexual women. None of the women studied had previously been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries (PCO) or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), although 15% had been treated for symptoms such as acne, excessive facial hair or the inability to conceive.
Each of the women had a pelvic ultrasound examination on the second or third day of their menstrual cycle, and blood samples were taken to measure levels of reproductive hormones. A Clinical psychologist, nurse, or counselor documented the details of their medical and sexual histories during three separate sessions.
Eighty percent of the lesbian women had polycystic ovaries (ovaries with attached, fluid-filled cysts or sacs), compared to 32% in heterosexual women. Lesbian women also had higher rates of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), with 38% having the syndrome compared to 14% of heterosexual women.
PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder among females and is characterized by multiple abnormal ovarian cysts. Possible symptoms include: excess male hormones, weight gain, obesity, excess facial and body hair, thinning hair, acne, skin tags, brown skin patches, depression, anxiety, irregular periods, and infertility.
Dr. Agrawal said: “Our research neither suggests nor indicates that polycystic ovaries-PCOS causes lesbianism, only that polycystic ovaries-PCOS is more prevalent in lesbian women,” said Agrawal. “We do, however, hypothesise that hyperandrogenism – which is associated with PCOS – may be one of the factors contributing to the sexual orientation of women.”
Dr. Andrea Lee is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing at Arizona Advanced Medicine in Scottsdale, where she treats a number of women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) among other conditions. As a member of Insulite Laboratories’ http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/ Medical & Advisory team, Dr. Lee provides guidance and coaching to individuals who contact the Insulite Support Network, including those using the various Insulite Systems.
Prior to attending Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Lee worked as a senior research study associate and volunteered with a breast cancer support group in Oklahoma City, OK. Her Bachelor’s degree is from the University of Alaska where she studied Psychology and Exercise Science.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Prevalence of polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome in lesbian women compared with heterosexual women. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 82, Issue 5, Pages 1352-1357 R. Agrawal, S. Sharma, J. Bekir, G. Conway, J. Bailey, A. Balen, G. Prelevic
http://www.fertstert.org/article/PIIS0015028204022277/abstract
November 27th, 2007
by Angi Ingalls, PCOS InconnecTion
“How is a birth control pill that encourages loss of menstrual cycles an altogether good idea?”
As I drive through the streets of New Haven, Connecticut, I am often disgusted by all the waste I see. I wonder if my neighbors got the memo on recycling, not littering and living green. Do they live in the same world I do? Do they watch TV? Read the paper? Listen to the radio? It makes me wonder.
I can’t tell you how many times I have seen someone open something and toss the package on the ground as if it was a piece of lint. All of this within a couple of feet from a clearly-visible waste can or one they will eventually walk by several feet away. I can remember just this past summer a woman standing two feet from a trash can. With her emptied soda can she takes one step closer to the trash can but drops the can into the sewer grate next to it. It didn’t fit between the grids, although that was her plan. Angry, I walked over, bent down, picked up the can, reached my hand out without taking another step and slam the can in the waste basket – all the while looking into her eyes. She said nothing but you could see the guilt in her eyes, I said nothing but you could see the disgust in mine and I walked away.
Our environment is hurting and we suffer as a result. We allow too much trash, we use too many chemicals, and we ignore the steps we can take to help improve the world around us. When we recycle, we reduce pollutions into our soils, reduce production of new materials (thus reducing more pollutants released into the environment) and reduce waste which eats up our land mass. “Going green” will increase healthier lifestyles, reduce toxic waste, reuse already produced or redesigned products and encourage demand for recycled and green products.
What scares me the most is how our world has changed since our grandparents – just how many chemicals are around us. Where our grandparents as unhealthy as we are today? Chemicals not only come from our waste but also the things we use every day. We have more cleaning supplies then ever before, more sprays, more wipes, more “antibacterial” and “antimicrobial”. Since when did we think that spraying a ‘refresher’ on our clothes, furniture and anything else was such a good idea without washing it off? Did anyone think about the impact those chemicals will eventually make on our skin, our lungs or on the foods we eat?
Even our medical community is increasing concerns. How is a birth control pill that encourages loss of menstrual cycles an altogether good idea? Is a one-size-fits-all vaginal spray/power product really healthy for all women when each of us has a different pH balance? How much soy is too much and how do we monitor our consumption if it is in almost everything we eat or use (foods, vitamins, topical creams, etc.)?
Is it really a wonder that our health problems are increasing? What is the link between chemicals and the function of our bodies? (1)
Many believe our endocrine system (2) can be altered by our diets and our environment (3).
What do you think?
Angi Ingalls; PCOS in ConnecTion
Guest PCOS writer
pcosinct@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article and the Insulite Labs website is for the sole purpose of being informative. Information obtained is not and should not be used or relied upon as medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, nurse or other qualified health care provider before you undergo any treatment, take any medication, supplements or other nutritional support, or for answers to any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
(1) http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/environmental_problems_article.html
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prediabetes
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor
November 26th, 2007
by Meg Heald, Blogcritics Magazine
November 20, 2007
“…mention its name to most people and they have no idea what you’re talking about.”
It is a disorder that affects one in ten women. It can occur in women of any race or nationality, causes side-effects which range from inconvenient to crippling, and is the leading cause of infertility among women of reproductive age. Yet mention its name to most people, and they have no idea what you’re talking about.
It’s called PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. And I’ve got it.
No two women appear to experience the disease in the exact same way, so being positive for PCOS can mean many different things. For me, it means I will forever be battling my body for balance. Having PCOS means I’m slightly insulin-resistant, which leads to weight gain and, if not controlled, diabetes. To manage these insulin spikes, I take two different medicines which I will essentially be on for the rest of my life.
I’m actually one of the lucky ones, however, to only deal with insulin resistance. Some of the other side-effects of PCOS can be far more debilitating and tougher to hide. Hirsutism, or unwanted body hair, is a common side-effect, which results in women growing hair on their faces and bodies like men. I’ve seen pictures of twelve-year-old girls with beards full enough to put most men to shame. Other women may suffer alopecia, which results in thinning of the hair on the scalp and, eventually, male-pattern baldness. Skin irritations are another factor, including darker patches on the skin, which are a sign of insulin resistance, and seborrhea, which causes itchy, flaky, red skin.
PCOS can also have long-term side-effects. It can increase the likelihood of cancer, especially endometrial cancer, and can result in infertility or miscarriage. It is connected closely to obesity and diabetes. On top of everything, there is no cure. Once determined PCOS-positive, all a woman can do is treat the symptoms and hope for balance.
To continue reading:
http://blogcritics.org:80/archives/2007/11/20/190311.php
