tasuki's advice column

how does a doctor check for a hormone imbalance.
i've been reading in magazines that excess hair and an irregular mentruation cycle after 6 months of having your period are signs of a hormone imbalance that can be treated. i am thinking that maybe i have this, but how does a doctor check for this? and how is it treated?

thank you. =).

That sounds like PCOS--Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. How the doctor treats it depends on who your doctor is, and what type of doctor they are. My endocrinologist told me that a regular doctor would probably give you birth control for it, but this doesn't really help--it just covers up the symptoms. I suggest going to an endocrinologist. Mine gave me something called Metformin, which is a glucose intolerance medication.

The symptoms that I showed were: stretch marks, excess facial hair, and irregular periods. I believe they will treat you if you have two of the symptoms, but it might have been three--my memory is a little fuzzy.

More symptoms would be: obesity, higher levels of testosterone (you would have to have your blood checked, the doctor will probably reccommend this), actual cysts on the ovaries, and...there are more, I just forget them.

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm will give you more information. =)

-Lea

EDIT: Also, look at other women in your family. If it's in your family history, that's something you should tell the doctor.

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(Rating: 5) best answer. =). thanks a bunch.

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