By not cause a nuisance in particular polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not detected until the woman looks pregnant and does not go to the doctor until it is discovered that does not ovulate by the presence of ovarian cysts level. Thus, 10 percent of infertile women have follicular cysts, announced Leticia Morales Ledesma, Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Higher Studies in Zaragoza, UNAM.
In recent years, have increased cases of women with polycystic ovaries worldwide and although at first it was thought that the incidence was higher past 40 years, is currently appearing early in life. Some studies suggest that the increase could be linked to the type of diet, stress, indiscriminate use of contraceptives, obesity and genetic factors, the researcher explained.
It is known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) because it is a multi-functional pathology which presents various clinical factors and alternatives for patients who have it are still very small. At present, there is no strong evidence to indicate why cysts appear, and although not preventable, it is possible to avoid risk factors such as obesity and decreased consumption of foods containing high amounts of Conservatives, such as sausages or canned products.
Morales Ledesma explained that a cyst is an ovarian follicle to atrophy, and in which the oocyte is not observed, which is the female sexual cell.
The syndrome begins with the formation of structures known as prequistes and then form cysts, which are characterized by fewer layers of granulosa cells, mostly involved in the production of estrogen, and hypertrophy of the theca cells present in the stroma of the ovary and produce hormones such as androgens and progestins and, to a lesser extent, estrogen, he said.
And insulin genes related to SOP
Leticia Morales warned that the fact that a woman has a normal menstrual period does not mean you are ovulating, nor are they a sign of the strong presence of cysts that some women feel pain during your period, even the specialist said that there are no studies strong adopt these ideas.
An indicator that has been relied upon to mention the presence of cysts is hirsutism, ie, the appearance of excessive hair in some areas of the body. Also, obesity may be a reference, although it is clear that not all women who have PCOS develop, but those with the syndrome itself may have obesity.
Dr. Morales Ledesma said that an external indicator of ovulation may be a slight increase in body temperature, implying that the woman was measured daily in order to receive this increase (which is tens of degrees). The problem that arises is that registration should always be taken under the same conditions.
There is a physiological characteristic that has been presented by women with polycystic ovary syndrome which is a reduced response to insulin, ie are more resistant to this, so it can also be associated in type II diabetes PCOS.
On the other hand, something that has been proven in recent decades is that PCOS is a syndrome with genetic implications. First, studies in rats were induced syndrome and following their offspring for generations, it was discovered that they also developed. Currently, a group of Chilean researchers working with a population of women in which found that the mother and daughter had PCOS, so it seems to be associated with some genes that may be triggers, but are not described yet.
Forms of treatment
One way to address this syndrome is the electroacupuncture, in which needles are stimulated with the nerves that reach the ovary is known. This method has been observed that some women ovulate and reduces the appearance of cysts.
Another alternative that has been practiced for some years is the wedge excision, which involves cutting the ovary where the cysts, which allows the woman to ovulate.
In this sense, the university researcher cautioned that such solutions are offered to pregnant women who want to reach their goal, but said that so far there is no security that this solution does not reappear cysts .
Finally, an alternative to remove the cysts is to remove the ovary, but this is offered as a solution only when the woman is found that the ovary is invaded by cysts and no longer seeking to have children.
Appearance of cysts
I do not know yet know why this syndrome occurs. One hypothesis suggests that there is an increased activity of sympathetic fibers (which are part of the autonomous nervous system and reaching the ovary) before cysts appear. Dr. Morales Ledesma said that the activity of a nerve is measured because it begins to synthesize most of the substances it produces.
“In this case, the sympathetic nerves is a typical neurotransmitter is norepinephrine, which begins to synthesize more of it and apparently that would be responsible for starting to form follicular cysts” he said.
A research group said that if noradrenaline reaches the ovary by the nerves, to remove the ovaries begin to function, taking this paper as a basis, the working group of Dr. Leticia Morales Ledesma published an article hypothesizing that that if he removed the superior ovarian nerve only one ovary, it would not ovulate and not ovulate was removed. However, the answer they found was the opposite, that is, which is high in norepinephrine is ovulating and the other not.
“Our question is: why, if norepinephrine was the cause of the appearance of cysts recovered denervated ovary function, which dramatically decreases the concentration of the amine. So this led us to propose that there are other ways nervous regulation, which would be responsible for activating the appearance of these cysts, “said the researcher.
With a new line of research, the working group of Dr. Morales Ledesma studies section of the vagus nerve also reaches the ovary, “is a cranial nerve and that when we observe that the section of the left or right vagus or the two, the two ovaries respond. That leads us to suggest that probably there is a level of ovarian nerve communication, which could explain why when we made the unilateral section of the superior ovarian nerve innervated the ovary responds. Then, we say that probably between these ovaries have a neural communication that allows the ovary to learn when you have a nerve or when you do not have. ”
According to research there are several physiological evidence supporting the idea that there is communication between the ovaries through the nerves, but still there is no anatomical evidence.
As part of the research taking place in the Unit of Reproductive Biology which belongs to Dr. Leticia Morales performed several studies in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is studied around the world, Mexico is working on providing its expertise in this condition in order to identify why and from what arises. There is a culture of prevention in our country, especially because no one knows what causes it and the absence of a treatment that cysts disappear completely, it is advisable to avoid risk factors such as obesity, nutrition or stress from early stages of life, concluded Leticia Morales.
Department of Public Understanding of Science, UNAM