Post by Angie on Oct 26, 2008 14:04:19 GMT -5
PCOS and Pregnancy
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Women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) who become pregnant may experience more health problems than the general population, including gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, miscarriage and premature delivery (1). Researchers have also documented health issues such as pre-eclampsia, macrosomia, (babies bigger than 4,500 grams at birth) and clotting factors in pregnant women with PCOS (2).
All of these serious problems are yet more evidence that it is extremely important to address PCOS and make the lifestyle changes necessary to reverse it and the underlying cause of Insulin Resistance. This is vital to prevent the health issues that can compromise long term wellness for both mother and child during and after pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women who have never had diabetes may experience high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, which is also known as gestational diabetes. This complication affects about four percent of all pregnant women. Studies have shown that women who have been diagnosed in pregnancy with gestational diabetes are found to have a higher prevalence of PCOS on subsequent screening (3). The risk is believed to be greater in obese women with PCOS who require ovulation induction in order to conceive. Ovulation induction is a procedure in which women who are infertile are treated with medication to stimulate the development of mature follicles in their ovaries to facilitate the growth of eggs.
Women who have been diagnosed as having PCOS before pregnancy should be screened for gestational diabetes in early pregnancy, with referral to a specialized obstetric diabetic service if abnormalities are detected. Such patients should be screened for abnormal glucose tolerance in pregnancy and, if appropriate, referred for antenatal management by an obstetrician with special interest in pregnancy and diabetes.
Pregnancy-induced High Blood Pressure
Some studies have demonstrated that there is a higher risk of pregnancy-induced high blood pressure among patients with PCOS (4). However, other studies showed no relationship between PCOS and the development of hypertension during pregnancy. A woman with borderline hypertension before pregnancy is more likely to have increased blood pressure in pregnancy, but most doctors check all patients for blood pressure issues. Women with PCOS should ensure that their physicians document their blood pressure throughout the pregnancy.
Miscarriage and Insulin Resistance
Women who have PCOS and are successful at becoming pregnant typically experience a higher rate of miscarriage than those who don’t have PCOS. Some studies put the rate of miscarriage for women with PCOS at 45 percent, as compared to the national average of 15 percent (5). PCOS is a syndrome of hormone imbalances; women who suffer from it have some hormones at too high of levels while others are too low.
In a pregnant woman with PCOS, elevated levels of insulin may interfere with the normal balance between factors promoting blood clotting and those promoting the breakdown of the clots. High insulin levels may actually result in increased blood clotting at the interface between the uterine lining and the placenta, leading to placental insufficiency, which is the failure of the placenta to supply nutrients to the fetus and remove toxic wastes. The result is miscarriage (6).
Premature Delivery
PCOS is associated with a 30 to 40 percent rate of early pregnancy loss (EPL), defined as miscarriage during the first trimester. In most cases no apparent cause can be identified but, in addition to defects in the developing embryo, adverse alterations in endometrial function may play a role. Insulin dysfunction has been identified as an independent risk factor for EPL. Studies in PCOS suggest that hyperinsulinemia suppresses endometrial expression of glycodelin, a protein whose circulating concentration may reflect endometrial function. Glycodelin is secreted by the endometrium and may inhibit the endometrial immune response to the embryo, and likely plays a critical role during implantation and in the maintenance of pregnancy (7).
Pre-eclampsia and Macrosomia
Pre-eclampsia is a dangerous complication of pregnancy, involving high blood pressure, protein traces in the urine and edema (abnormal fluid accumulation in parts of the body). It is one of the most dangerous complications that can occur during pregnancy and is a major cause of both maternal and child death during pregnancy and immediately after birth. Macrosomia is the term for a newborn with an excessive birth weight. Factors associated with fetal macrosomia include gestational diabetes and Diabetes Mellitus, demonstrating once again a link to hormonal disorder (8).
Promoting a Healthy Pregnancy
You can take certain steps to improve your overall health that may also be helpful in ensuring a healthy and complication-free pregnancy in the future. These steps include improving your overall diet, increasing your exercise, reducing your stress levels and balancing your hormonal systems. The Insulite PCOS System incorporates all of these approaches to treat PCOS and its underlying Insulin Resistance, which can be helpful in reducing any health risks during pregnancy.
Because there is no single solution that addresses all the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Insulin Resistance, you must rely on a multi-faceted approach to reversing these conditions. A complete system, including nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support network that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices, will address the issues presented by these syndromes. Treatment of your PCOS may help increase your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.
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Women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) who become pregnant may experience more health problems than the general population, including gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, miscarriage and premature delivery (1). Researchers have also documented health issues such as pre-eclampsia, macrosomia, (babies bigger than 4,500 grams at birth) and clotting factors in pregnant women with PCOS (2).
All of these serious problems are yet more evidence that it is extremely important to address PCOS and make the lifestyle changes necessary to reverse it and the underlying cause of Insulin Resistance. This is vital to prevent the health issues that can compromise long term wellness for both mother and child during and after pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women who have never had diabetes may experience high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, which is also known as gestational diabetes. This complication affects about four percent of all pregnant women. Studies have shown that women who have been diagnosed in pregnancy with gestational diabetes are found to have a higher prevalence of PCOS on subsequent screening (3). The risk is believed to be greater in obese women with PCOS who require ovulation induction in order to conceive. Ovulation induction is a procedure in which women who are infertile are treated with medication to stimulate the development of mature follicles in their ovaries to facilitate the growth of eggs.
Women who have been diagnosed as having PCOS before pregnancy should be screened for gestational diabetes in early pregnancy, with referral to a specialized obstetric diabetic service if abnormalities are detected. Such patients should be screened for abnormal glucose tolerance in pregnancy and, if appropriate, referred for antenatal management by an obstetrician with special interest in pregnancy and diabetes.
Pregnancy-induced High Blood Pressure
Some studies have demonstrated that there is a higher risk of pregnancy-induced high blood pressure among patients with PCOS (4). However, other studies showed no relationship between PCOS and the development of hypertension during pregnancy. A woman with borderline hypertension before pregnancy is more likely to have increased blood pressure in pregnancy, but most doctors check all patients for blood pressure issues. Women with PCOS should ensure that their physicians document their blood pressure throughout the pregnancy.
Miscarriage and Insulin Resistance
Women who have PCOS and are successful at becoming pregnant typically experience a higher rate of miscarriage than those who don’t have PCOS. Some studies put the rate of miscarriage for women with PCOS at 45 percent, as compared to the national average of 15 percent (5). PCOS is a syndrome of hormone imbalances; women who suffer from it have some hormones at too high of levels while others are too low.
In a pregnant woman with PCOS, elevated levels of insulin may interfere with the normal balance between factors promoting blood clotting and those promoting the breakdown of the clots. High insulin levels may actually result in increased blood clotting at the interface between the uterine lining and the placenta, leading to placental insufficiency, which is the failure of the placenta to supply nutrients to the fetus and remove toxic wastes. The result is miscarriage (6).
Premature Delivery
PCOS is associated with a 30 to 40 percent rate of early pregnancy loss (EPL), defined as miscarriage during the first trimester. In most cases no apparent cause can be identified but, in addition to defects in the developing embryo, adverse alterations in endometrial function may play a role. Insulin dysfunction has been identified as an independent risk factor for EPL. Studies in PCOS suggest that hyperinsulinemia suppresses endometrial expression of glycodelin, a protein whose circulating concentration may reflect endometrial function. Glycodelin is secreted by the endometrium and may inhibit the endometrial immune response to the embryo, and likely plays a critical role during implantation and in the maintenance of pregnancy (7).
Pre-eclampsia and Macrosomia
Pre-eclampsia is a dangerous complication of pregnancy, involving high blood pressure, protein traces in the urine and edema (abnormal fluid accumulation in parts of the body). It is one of the most dangerous complications that can occur during pregnancy and is a major cause of both maternal and child death during pregnancy and immediately after birth. Macrosomia is the term for a newborn with an excessive birth weight. Factors associated with fetal macrosomia include gestational diabetes and Diabetes Mellitus, demonstrating once again a link to hormonal disorder (8).
Promoting a Healthy Pregnancy
You can take certain steps to improve your overall health that may also be helpful in ensuring a healthy and complication-free pregnancy in the future. These steps include improving your overall diet, increasing your exercise, reducing your stress levels and balancing your hormonal systems. The Insulite PCOS System incorporates all of these approaches to treat PCOS and its underlying Insulin Resistance, which can be helpful in reducing any health risks during pregnancy.
Because there is no single solution that addresses all the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or Insulin Resistance, you must rely on a multi-faceted approach to reversing these conditions. A complete system, including nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support network that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices, will address the issues presented by these syndromes. Treatment of your PCOS may help increase your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.