Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) have an imbalance in their hormonal systems that often leads to infertility. Simply put, their bodies produce too many androgens, or male hormones. There are several options for women with PCOS and most women, especially if under 35, can get pregnant with modest medical assistance. These options mostly consist of drug therapies that attempt to balance out hormone levels and promote ovulation. There is also an option called In Vitro Maturation (IVM) in which eggs are harvested and brought to maturity outside the body and then implanted back into the body.
But if you are a woman with PCOS and the weight loss and/or hormone drug treatments haven't worked for you, and IVM either didn't work or isn't appealing to you at this time, there is yet another option!
What is ovarian drilling?
Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling is a surgical option to the PCOS problem. It is not a particularly common option yet so the studies are based on about 1,000 women who have had it done. It is a surgical treatment in which a laser is used to destroy part of the ovaries, lowering androgen hormone levels and triggering ovulation in women with PCOS.
The Procedure:
General anesthesia is administered. An incision is cut in the abdomen at the belly button. A tube is placed inside to inflate the abdomen so that the viewing instrument can be inserted without damaging any internal organs. A laparoscope is then inserted, through which the doctor can view the organs. Then, a laser or electrosurgical needle is used to puncture the ovary 10-12 times.
The Results:
The treatment results in a lowering of male hormones within days. After surgery ovulation occurs spontaneously in 70-90% of women. The probability of pregnancy after one year is 40-60%. If pregnancy still does not occur after ovarian drilling, the procedure has been seen to increase the effects of drug therapy if it is re-administered after the drilling procedure.
The Risks:
The main problems associated with surgery include adhesion formation, possible scar tissue on the ovaries, and the risk of destruction of the ovaries leading to ovarian failure. In addition, there are those risks that are always associated with surgery and anesthesia. All of these side effects are rare.
Conclusion:
Women with PCOS have lots of options. Ovarian drilling is not as common as the other treatments and is still being studied. It is an option for people who have tried the hormone drugs and weight-loss options and have found those unsuccessful. And though the title makes it sound pretty daunting, the procedure is sometimes referred to as "Band-aid surgery" because the incision made is so small. If it is of interest to you, bring it up with your physician to determine whether it might be an appropriate therapy in your case.
No comments:
Post a Comment