Menstrual problems, including amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea and anovulatory cycles with dysfunctional uterine bleeding, are common in women with PCOS – and manageable.
The combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill is generally safe to use in patients with PCOS, despite their increased risk of diabetes, and there is no clear evidence of negative metabolic effects such as increased insulin resistance.
The COC is highly effective at regulating menstrual cycles. Additionally, it is likely to reduce the long term risk of endometrial hyperplasia.
Other treatment options include:
- progestogens – cyclical oral medroxyprogesterone (Provera) or the levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine implant (Mirena)
- metformin, and
- lifestyle modification.
SOURCE: Dr Rob Lahoud, Healthed Annual Women’s Health Update, Sydney 2010
Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha