Health
Dr Idris Giwa, a Lagos-based medical practitioner, has identified Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) as a common cause of infertility in females, and menstrual irregularities in female adolescents and other women of reproductive age.
Giwa, who spoke at the Estate Youth Parliament (EYP) health talk, on Sunday, in Lagos, described the PCOS as a common condition among young menstruating females and women of reproductive age.
According to him, although the condition could not be cured, it could be managed effectively, if detected early with increased chances of fertility.
“Lifestyle changes like doing physical exercises, working on reducing central or truncal obesity, with dietary changes, such as reducing high cholesterol and fatty diets, can reduce its prevalence.
“Also, for those who have PCOS complicated by diabetes, a low sugar is very important. The prevalence in Nigeria is about 12.2 per cent.
“It is not an infectious condition, but caused by hormonal imbalance and hence has no vaccines against it,” he said.
If a patient was treated effectively, such patient could bear children after treatment, Giwa said, adding that the treatment depended on the age of the woman and the desire to get pregnant (need to induce ovulation).
“The first step to dealing with it is by losing weight and doing physical exercise, as well as reducing high cholesterol or fatty diet. Losing about 5 to -15 per cent of weight in obese women can help with restoring the normal menstrual cycles
“Avoiding smoking; other interventions include birth control pills to normalise menstruation, reduce acne or pimples and hirsutism,” he said.
He said that about 8 to 20 per cent of women have PCOS, and was a lifetime condition that could not be cured but managed. (NAN)
-Feb 28, 2021 @ 3;12pm
Tags: common cause of infertility in females Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome says medical expert
