Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome) is a female hormonal condition that is the main cause of menstrual irregularities, anovulation, which leads to infertility. The incidence of Stein-Leventhal syndrome is about 3% among all gynecological diseases in women at the final stage of puberty and the establishment of childbearing function, at the beginning of active sexual life (most often women aged 20 to 30 years suffer).
Historical facts
The pioneers of the Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, which first described this condition in detail, were in 1935 the scientists Stein and Leventhal, in whose honor it got its name.
The first and only treatment was radical surgery. Removal of sites with the highest cyst content allowed in some cases to return fertility (fertility) to a woman, to return the onset of ovulation and the possibility of having children. But such a radical solution to the problem did not always lead to success, and also contributed to the formation of adhesions and other complications.
Clinical picture
Stein-Leventhal disease is characterized by increased secretion of male and female sex hormones, impaired ovarian function, irregular ovulation or none at all, hypersecretion of the adrenal cortex and pancreas. Also, it is characterized by a violation of the menstrual cycle and infertility.
Women with the syndrome cannot become pregnant due to lack of ovulation. And if they succeed, then carrying a child is extremely difficult for them, there is a significant risk of miscarriage or premature birth.
With the right treatment, the prognosis is favorable, and most women are able to bear and give birth to healthy children.
Causes
Until the end, the circumstances causing the occurrence of pathology are unknown. There is a hereditary predisposition, as well as conditions that are at risk, in which Stein-Leventhal syndrome can develop. The reasons may be as follows:
- Genetic predisposition, the presence of the syndrome in the anamnesis of one of the family members, blood relatives. The possibility of inheriting the syndrome is not excluded. Most often, women who have cases of polycystic ovary in the family, as well as other conditions characterized by pathological enlargement of the ovaries, proliferation of their membranes, are sick most often.
- Diseases of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, for example, congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex.
- Uterine fibroma.
- Mastopathy
- Violation of the synthesis of estrogen in the ovaries.
Indirect causes of the syndrome
Indirect causes that can provoke polycystic ovary include:
- obesity, a sharp increase in body weight;
- cancers;
- metabolic disease;
- the presence of cardiovascular diseases (stroke, myocardial infarction, hypertension);
- diabetes.
When should I see a doctor?
There are alarming signals that may indicate Stein-Leventhal syndrome. These signs do not yet speak of a final diagnosis, but are just an excuse to visit a doctor to check your health. These include:
- Male-type hair loss (hirsutism) is the very first sign and symptom that can indicate the development of polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Violation of the menstrual cycle, its irregularity, too meager blood discharge.
- Infertility, inability to conceive a child, inability to bear the fetus, miscarriages.
- Acne rashes, acne, greasy skin, too oily scalp and hair.
Main symptoms
Stein-Leventhal syndrome is characterized by the presence of symptoms that can be observed in most sick women:
- Lean menstruation, disruption of the cycle, lack of ovulation.
- Fat deposition in the abdomen.
- Uterine underdevelopment.
- Baldness in the region of the crown, the presence of lateral bald patches and in the forehead.
- Ovarian enlargement, the appearance of many cysts on their surfaces.
- Depression, apathy, nervousness, irritability, aggressiveness.
- Increased levels of male hormones androgens in the blood (testosterone, androstenedione).
- Symptoms similar to premenstrual syndrome (swelling of the mammary glands, pulling pain in the lower abdomen, frequent mood swings, swelling, lower back pain).
- Involuntary respiratory arrest in sleep (apnea), which leads to sleep disturbance, lack of sleep, fatigue.
- Chronic pain in the lower abdomen, caused by the growth of the ovarian endometrium , pulling conditions.
- The growth and thickening of the endometrium of the uterus due to the production of excessive estrogen.
- Lowering the level of globulin.
- Increased blood insulin levels.
Changes in appearance
Most often, women are morally difficult to tolerate Stein-Leventhal syndrome. The woman’s appearance does not change for the better, which causes discomfort, self-doubt, moral suffering and depression. The most unpleasant problem is the appearance of hair where a woman should not have it. The shape of the mammary glands does not change, as does the physique. The most unpleasant symptoms that lead to dissatisfaction with your body are:
- fat deposition in the abdomen;
- increased oily skin, acne;
- the appearance of stretch marks, striae on the hips, abdomen and buttocks;
- dark pigment spots on the skin;
- seborrhea, increased peeling of the skin, dandruff;
- male pattern baldness, hair loss;
- fine wrinkles and folds on the skin.
Ovaries pathologically increase in size, their shell thickens, becomes dense and shiny. A large number of follicular cysts appears on their surface, pronounced sclerosis of the vessels and proliferation of connective tissue are observed.
Hirsutism
The most unpleasant symptom of Stein-Leventhal syndrome is hirsutism. It is characterized by the appearance of hard and long hair on the woman’s body according to the male type: in the chest, abdomen, cheeks, above the upper lip, chin, as well as on the upper back, along the spine, around the nipples.
Treatment of the syndrome does not lead to getting rid of excess hair. To get rid of them, laser, photo and electrolysis is used, which will completely remove excess hair for a long time. And with several repeated procedures and forever.
Diagnostics
The condition is diagnosed if there are several signs that are most characteristic of women who are concerned about Stein-Leventhal syndrome. Photos of women suffering from the syndrome prove that not everyone has pronounced hirsutism due to the production of male sex hormones in excess. Therefore, the main features include:
- Excessive activity and secretion of male sex hormones (androgens).
- Very rare ovulation is oligovulation. Or their absence at all - anovulation.
- An ultrasound revealed polycystic ovaries, if there are no other obvious reasons for the formation of cysts.
- A significant increase in the ovaries on both sides.
Diagnostics using x-rays and ultrasounds.
Analysis Indicators
In the blood, there is a decrease in estrogen levels, but an increase in androgen hormones. And also increases their excretion in the urine.
For the diagnosis of the syndrome, special hormonal tests are used (chorionic gonadotropin or progesterone), which are excreted in high concentrations in the urine, which indicates their excessive formation in the ovaries.
Traditional medical treatment
The main principle in the treatment is to ensure the appearance of ovulation in a woman with a diagnosis of Stein-Leventhal syndrome. The treatment is long-term and complex, mainly carried out with the help of hormonal drugs.
Used estrogen-containing progestogen drugs (Ovidon, Regevidon). Also, antiandrogens are used as part of complex therapy, which effectively eliminate the symptoms of androgenization, limiting the synthesis of these hormones and their hypersecretion in the glands.
Treatment of Stein-Leventhal syndrome with folk remedies can also be effective in achieving such a goal as pregnancy. Mostly used various infusions of herbs.
If the positive effect of the drugs is not observed within six months, then surgical methods for solving the problem are used - wedge-shaped resection of the ovaries. In some cases, curettage of the uterus is recommended. Also, these methods are considered effective in the pathological growth of the endometrium by more than 20% after the age of 30 years.
The most modern and gentle method to prevent the formation of adhesions is laparoscopy (micro-resection, electropuncture, laser vaporization).
After surgery, women are shown mandatory medical supervision and medical examination. In the event that after six months it turned out that the treatment of Stein-Leventhal syndrome did not help, medications are prescribed again. After surgery, the response to drugs increases, which allows to achieve good results.
Preventive measures against the development of the syndrome do not exist, since the nature and causes of its occurrence are not fully understood. Male-based body hair loss may be the first alarm bell talking about the onset of polycystic ovary syndrome, therefore, at the slightest sign of unusual changes in appearance, you need to contact a specialist.
Stein-Leventhal Syndrome: Herbal Treatment
Treatment with alternative methods, in particular herbs, should in no case be used as an independent therapy and a replacement for traditional methods. This is just one of the components that can become effective only with an integrated approach.
In order to increase the likelihood of pregnancy, it is necessary to take tinctures of the following herbs:
- Sporish one tablespoon pour one glass of boiling water. After infusion (2-3 hours), take half a glass before each meal.
- Adam root tincture is prepared in the same way, only it should be infused for more than 2 hours, wrapped in a towel or other warm cloth. Take one tablespoon of the product before meals 4 times a day.
- Tincture of medicinal sage should be brewed in the same way. It should be taken three times a day, dividing the glass into three doses, no later than half an hour before a meal.
- Led rosemary is brewed in a proportion of 1 glass of water per 1 teaspoon of grass, infused for about 8 hours, after which it is taken half a glass before eating during the day.
- To prepare the tincture from the collection of herbs, you will need parsley leaves, motherwort, rose hips, plantain, lemon balm, calendula flowers, sage, a series of leaves of strawberries and St. John's wort of 10 grams. Pour everything into a thermos, pour boiling water (250 ml), insist no more than 20 minutes. Then pour into another container and insist for about half an hour. Take three times a day before meals in half a glass.
To achieve the best result during treatment, it is necessary to include the following products in the diet of a woman, which contain many vitamins of groups A, E, C and B:
- garlic:
- radish;
- celery;
- fruits of pistachios;
- green onions;
- corn;
- grapes.
Consequences and risks
Inadequate treatment can lead to a wide variety of consequences. Due to the excessive production of androgens, which is characterized by Stein-Leventhal syndrome, a woman's appearance can catastrophically change, but more serious diseases also develop, such as:
- diabetes;
- breast cancer
- stroke;
- heart attack;
- endometrial cancer, hyperplasia.
The mechanisms of the development of pathology have not yet been fully studied. More recently, scientists managed to find effective drug therapy, when previously only surgical methods of treatment were categorically used. In modern medical practice, many cases of almost complete recovery have been recorded. Menstruation resumes in women, ovulation appears, and with it a chance to successfully conceive, bear and give birth to a healthy baby. Do not run the condition, each woman can be helped. How effective the help will turn out depends not only on the individual course of the disease, but also on its timely diagnosis, the use of complex therapy.