Usually a weak half of humanity carefully monitors the state of their female health. When unusual symptoms appear, the ladies rush to the doctor immediately and undergo the necessary examinations. However, only a few give due attention to the duration of the menstrual cycle. And very in vain. Its increase or, conversely, a decrease can be caused by ovarian dysfunction. It is about this pathology that the article will be discussed.
What is ovarian dysfunction?
This term refers to a disorder of the hormonal function of the ovaries. In the presence of this pathology, they cease to fully perform their work - the production of hormones and germ cells.
The condition is accompanied by malfunctions of the menstrual cycle and the appearance of other characteristic symptoms. Ovarian dysfunction should not be ignored. It can lead to infertility and other unpleasant consequences, which will be discussed below.
What is the danger of ovarian dysfunction?
In the presence of this problem, the woman’s body is not able to produce eggs. Therefore, the answer to the frequently asked question from patients about whether it is possible to become pregnant with ovarian dysfunction will, unfortunately, be negative. Although it is worth noting that timely treatment can eliminate this problem.
If the symptoms of ovarian dysfunction are ignored for a long period of time, the disease becomes chronic. In addition, other negative consequences are possible, such as:
- uterine fibroids;
- mastopathy
- endometriosis;
- infertility.
It has been proven that with ovarian dysfunction, the risk of cancer (endometrial cancer, breast cancer) significantly increases. Especially attentive should be women who are more than 40 years old, since it is at this age that the natural dying of the function of the sex glands occurs.
Causes of the disease
The causes of ovarian dysfunction can be many different factors.
- Inflammatory processes in the uterus (endometritis, cervicitis), its appendages (salpingoophoritis, adnexitis) and ovaries (oophoritis). The risk of these pathologies increases with non-observance of the rules of intimate hygiene, hypothermia, decreased immunity, colds, violations of technology and frequent douching of the vagina.
- Venereal diseases.
- Congenital or acquired endocrine disorders (obesity, diabetes, diseases of the adrenal gland or thyroid gland). All of them are accompanied by hormonal imbalance, which is reflected in the genital area.
- Ovarian and uterine diseases. In particular, it can be fibroma, ovarian tumors, adenomyosis, endometriosis, cancer of the body and cervix and so on.
- Head injuries, during which damage to the pituitary gland occurred.
- Overstrain and nervous exhaustion, which arose as a result of severe physical or psychological overwork, stress, improper distribution of periods of work and rest.
- Abortion. To a greater extent this applies to medical abortion during the first pregnancy. During this period, the body begins to rebuild so that the woman has the opportunity to bear the fetus. Interruption of this restructuring can lead to ovarian dysfunction and threatens infertility.
- Incorrect placement of the intrauterine device. It is important to remember that installing such a device is possible only in the absence of contraindications. In the future, one should not forget about regular control examinations.
- External factors. These include climate change, radiation injuries, excessive insolation, the use of certain medications.
In some cases, only menstrual irregularities can lead to persistent ovarian dysfunction.
Endocrinological causes of the disease
At the heart of ovarian dysfunction are dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. It is the anterior pituitary gland that is responsible for the ratio of the level of such hormones as prolactin, luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH). A decrease in progesterone levels and an increase in the number of estrogens lead to menstrual disorders, the absence of the corpus luteum phase and anovulation (lack of ovulation).
Types of the pathological process
Ovarian dysfunction is divided into three main types:
- juvenile;
- reproductive;
- menopause.
Juvenile dysfunction manifests itself at a young age. Usually it does not pose a great danger, since girls still have immature endocrine regulation and it will take some time to stabilize the menstrual cycle.
Reproductive ovarian dysfunction may indicate the development of another disease or impending infertility. It requires compulsory treatment, which we will pay special attention to later.
Menopausal dysfunction of the ovaries is normal in older women. This is a natural extinction of the functions of the gonads. This process has another name - menopause. Usually it occurs at the age of 45-55 years. These changes in ovarian function are irreversible. In some cases, during menopause, characteristic symptoms may be observed:
- increased sweating;
- sleep impairment;
- frequent urination;
- excessive dryness of the mucous membranes of the vagina and skin;
- hot flashes, which are accompanied by redness of the skin;
- anxiety and irritability.
You can get rid of them with the help of hormonal therapy. In the absence of contraindications, it is carried out once every five years. Therapy with natural hormones is prohibited with:
- varicose veins with a risk of thromboembolism;
- suspected endometriosis of the walls of the uterus;
- diseases of the kidneys, liver, gall bladder and endocrine system;
- bleeding disorders.
But even in such cases, do not despair, as there are alternative treatment options. This may be the therapy of bioidentical hormones, phytohormones, or estrogen receptor modulators. The only negative of these substances is that they have a less pronounced effect.
Symptoms of the pathological process
Clear signs of ovarian dysfunction are:
- Irregular menstruation, their excessive intensity or, conversely, scarcity, bleeding during the menstrual period.
- Pain in the lower back or lower abdomen (drawing, cramping, or dull) during the alleged ovulation, in the premenstrual or menstrual periods.
- Inability to get pregnant or miscarriage.
- Acyclic uterine bleeding. They can be of various types: rare (break is more than 30 days), frequent (break less than 21 days), long (more than 7 days), plentiful (blood loss more than 150 milliliters).
- Severe course of premenstrual syndrome. PMS is accompanied by excessive irritability or, conversely, passive apathy, as well as lethargy.
- absence of menstruation for more than 6 months.
- Signs of anemia: general weakness, pallor of the skin, poor appetite, dizziness, tachycardia.
Moreover, the presence of all or several features at the same time is completely optional. The reason to seek help from a specialist is the presence of at least one of them!
In more rare cases, other symptoms are observed with ovarian dysfunction:
- accumulation of pus in the ovaries;
- excessive hair growth throughout the body (hirsutism);
- acne
- decreased libido;
- weight gain.
Usually they are observed in those patients in whom menstruation occurs less than eight times a year.
Diagnostic Methods
To diagnose and prescribe a treatment for ovarian dysfunction, you will need to contact a gynecologist and endocrinologist. Each of these specialists will conduct their own types of studies, according to the results of which it will be possible to judge the presence of the disease.
At the appointment with the gynecologist, several of the following procedures and analyzes will be performed:
- inspection on the armchair;
- taking inoculation from the vagina to the flora;
- PCR analysis;
- histological examination of the endometrium of the uterine cavity.
The endocrinologist will prescribe studies that will help to have an idea about the hormonal background of the patient:
- estrogen;
- prolactin;
- progesterone;
- LH
- FSH;
- thyroid hormones;
- adrenal hormones.
If necessary, other studies may be prescribed:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
- histological studies;
- hysteroscopy;
- transvaginal ultrasound imaging.
If a pituitary gland is suspected, it will be prescribed:
- X-ray examination of the skull;
- computed tomography of the brain;
- magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.
In each individual case, the necessary set of diagnostic methods can be simplified or supplemented depending on the clinical picture of the disease. For example, girls are often prescribed tests:
- platelet count;
- antithrombin III level;
- blood coagulation;
- to the level of prothrombin;
- for bleeding time.
In reproductive age, special attention is paid to:
- possible consequences of abortion;
- cervix and uterine cavity (is there a need for curettage);
- risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Drug treatment
With a diagnosis of Ovarian Dysfunction, you can become pregnant. But first, the patient will have to undergo a course of treatment. The main objectives of the latter will be:
- Stopping bleeding and eliminating other emergency conditions.
- Elimination of the cause of ovarian dysfunction.
- Recovery of hormonal function of the ovaries and normalization of the menstrual cycle.
At the first stage of treatment of ovarian dysfunction, the patient may be prescribed:
- Hormone therapy.
- The use of hemostatic drugs.
- Curettage of the cervical canal and uterine cavity.
Preparations for the treatment of ovarian dysfunction are selected depending on the causes of the pathology. If it was provoked by the presence of infectious and inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs (inflammation of the appendages, endometritis, and so on), it will be necessary to undergo a course of anti-inflammatory and antibiotic therapy. In case of impaired gland function (pituitary, adrenal gland, thyroid), appropriate hormone therapy will be prescribed.
The last stage (normalization of the menstrual cycle) requires:
- hormonal therapy with oral contraceptives, as well as progesterone and other pure progestogens;
- acupuncture;
- physiotherapy;
- general strengthening therapy (for example, taking various vitamin-mineral complexes, dietary supplements, homeopathic medicines).
A normal way of life, mode, diet, physical activity also have an equal role in the healing process. In some cases, it may be necessary to visit a psychologist or psychotherapist.
How to treat ovarian dysfunction, the doctor decides. It is he who will select the most effective drugs and procedures, focusing on the clinical picture of the disease.
Treatment does not end with the elimination of the symptoms of the disease. After its completion, the patient will need to take progesterone from the 16th to the 26th day of the menstrual cycle. This will avoid relapse.
If a woman plans to become pregnant soon, she will have to undergo stimulation of ovulation. The drugs prescribed by the doctor will need to be taken from the 5th to the 29th day of the menstrual cycle. In this case, with the help of ultrasound, the speed of development of the follicle will be monitored. As a rule, stimulation is carried out for three consecutive cycles.
If pregnancy is not included in the plans for the near future, it will be enough to take oral contraceptives. They will help restore the menstrual cycle and protect against the negative effects of the disease.
Alternative methods of treatment
Treatment of ovarian dysfunction with folk remedies is widespread. Many are convinced that the use of medicinal plants can prevent unwanted hormone therapy. This opinion, unfortunately, is erroneous, since the basis of the disease are endocrine disorders and the use of such drugs is indispensable.
However, no one forbids the use of both medication and folk remedies for the treatment of ovarian dysfunction. Reviews about this combination, which leave the patient, in most cases positive.
Alternative methods of treatment include the internal use of decoctions of various medicinal plants and douching. In the first case, they usually use:
- centaury;
- licorice;
- Grushanka
- clover;
- coltsfoot;
- marshmallow root;
- thyme;
- dioecious nettle leaves;
- yarrow;
- Hypericum flowers
For douching, infusions made from:
- immortelle flowers and leaves;
- oak bark;
- elderberry flowers;
- daisies.
Before you start douching or consuming decoctions of herbs, you should consult your doctor.
Preventative measures
As with any other disease, it is easier to prevent the occurrence of ovarian dysfunction than to then treat it and eliminate the unpleasant consequences. In addition, there is nothing complicated in the preventive measures of this pathology. It is quite simple for a woman:
- Observe intimate hygiene. This will protect against infection through the genitourinary tract to important organs - the uterus, appendages, ovaries, and urinary bladder.
- Avoid hypothermia. In particular, this rule applies to the pelvic organs. Their freezing can cause inflammation of the uterus, its appendages and ovaries.
- Do not forget about regular visits to the gynecologist (once every six months) and timely treatment of diseases in order to prevent their transition to a chronic form.
- Avoid emotional and physical overwork. It is important to establish a clear mode of work and rest.
- Do not self-medicate and in no case do not take unknown and potent drugs without a doctor’s prescription.
- Take hormonal drugs (for example, oral contraceptives), clearly following the scheme developed by the doctor.
- To refuse from bad habits.
- Lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes proper nutrition, physical activity.
- Exclude abortion. This is especially true for cases of first pregnancy!
- Have regular sex with a regular partner.
Do not underestimate the danger and seriousness of such a pathology as ovarian dysfunction. It is important to remember the negative consequences that it can provoke, and in time to seek help from specialists. Fortunately, today this phenomenon has been well studied, so patients can be calm about their health. The treatment will pass quickly enough, and compliance with preventive measures will prevent the recurrence of the disease.
Be healthy!