Читать книгу The Ultimate PCOS Handbook: Lose weight, boost fertility, clear skin and restore self-esteem - Theresa Cheung - Страница 40

If you have irregular periods, your doctor is most likely to prescribe you oral contraceptives. In addition to protecting the uterine lining by inducing a monthly bleed, some brands of contraceptive pill can control excess face and body hair. And, of course, you get the contraceptive benefit.

Before prescribing oral contraceptives, your doctor will perform an examination or a blood test to be certain that you aren’t pregnant. If you haven’t had a period for six weeks or longer, your doctor may also first prescribe medroxyprogesterone acetate or a progestin (Provera) to induce a menstrual period. A progestin is a medication that mimics the action of progesterone. This will cause a period in almost all women with PCOS, but it doesn’t help with the cosmetic concerns (excess hair or acne) and doesn’t provide contraception.

A modest amount of weight loss can also restore normal periods in some women. For example, many overweight women with PCOS who lose 5 to 10 per cent of their body weight notice that their periods become more regular.

The final treatment for irregular menstrual periods is the use of insulin-lowering agents (see page 55).