Usually the weak half of humanity carefully monitors the state of their women's he alth. When unusual symptoms appear, ladies immediately rush to the doctor and undergo the necessary examinations. However, only a few pay due attention to the duration of the menstrual cycle. And very in vain. Its increase or, conversely, decrease can be caused by ovarian dysfunction. It is this pathology that will be discussed in the article.
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 menstrual irregularities 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?
With this problem, a woman's body is unable to produce eggs. Therefore, the answer to a frequently asked question from patients is it possible to get pregnant with dysfunctionovaries, 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 ovarian dysfunction significantly increases the risk of oncological diseases (endometrial cancer, breast cancer). Especially attentive should be women who are over 40 years old, since it is at this age that the natural extinction of the function of the gonads occurs.
Causes of disease development
Many different factors can cause ovarian dysfunction.
- Inflammatory processes in the uterus (endometritis, cervicitis), its appendages (salpingoophoritis, adnexitis) and ovaries (oophoritis). The risk of these pathologies increases with non-compliance with the rules of intimate hygiene, hypothermia, decreased immunity, colds, technical violations and frequent douching of the vagina.
- STDs.
- Congenital or acquired endocrine disorders (obesity, diabetes, adrenal or thyroid disease). All of them are accompanied by hormonal imbalance, which also affects the genital area.
- Diseases of the ovaries and uterus. In particular, it can be fibroma, ovarian tumors,adenomyosis, endometriosis, body and cervical cancer and so on.
- Head injuries during which damage to the pituitary gland occurred.
- Overtension 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 threaten infertility.
- Incorrect IUD placement. It is important to remember that such a device can only be installed if there are no contraindications. In the future, we must not forget about regular control examinations.
- External factors. These include climate change, radiation injury, excessive insolation, the use of certain medications.
In some cases, only menstrual irregularities can lead to persistent ovarian dysfunction.
Endocrinological causes of the disease
The ovarian dysfunction is based on dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. It is the anterior pituitary gland that is responsible for the ratio of the level of hormones such as prolactin, luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH). A decrease in the level of progesterone and an increase in the number of estrogens lead to menstrual disorders, the absence of a phasecorpus luteum and anovulation (lack of ovulation).
Types of pathological process
Ovarian dysfunction is divided into three main types:
- juvenile;
- reproductive;
- climacteric.
Juvenile dysfunction manifests itself at a young age. Usually it does not pose a great danger, since girls are still immature endocrine regulation and it will take some time for the menstrual cycle to stabilize.
Ovarian dysfunction in the reproductive period may indicate the development of another disease or impending infertility. It requires mandatory treatment, which we will pay special attention to later.
Climacteric ovarian dysfunction is normal in older women. This is a natural extinction of the functions of the sex glands. 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, characteristic symptoms may occur during menopause:
- excessive sweating;
- deterioration of sleep;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- excessive dryness of the mucous membranes of the vagina and skin;
- hot flashes accompanied by reddening of the skin;
- restlessness and irritability.
You can get rid of them with the help of hormone therapy. In the absence of contraindications, it is carried out every five years. Natural hormone therapy is prohibited when:
- varicose veins withrisk of thromboembolism;
- suspicion of endometriosis of the walls of the uterus;
- diseases of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder and endocrine system;
- blood clotting disorders.
But even in such cases, do not despair, as there are alternative treatment options. This may be therapy with 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 between periods.
- Pain in the lower back or lower abdomen (pulling, cramping or dull) during expected ovulation, premenstrual or menstrual periods.
- Inability to conceive or miscarriage.
- Acyclic uterine bleeding. They can be of various types: rare (a break of more than 30 days), frequent (a break of less than 21 days), long-term (more than 7 days), abundant (blood loss of more than 150 milliliters).
- Severe premenstrual syndrome. PMS is accompanied by excessive irritability or, conversely, passive apathy, as well as lethargy.
- no period for more than 6 months.
- Signs of anemia: general weakness, pale skin, poor appetite, dizziness, tachycardia.
In this case, the presence of all or several signs at the same time is absolutely optional. The reason to seek help from a specialist is the presence of at least one of them!
In more rare cases, ovarian dysfunction has other symptoms:
- accumulation of pus in the ovaries;
- excessive hair growth all over the body (hirsutism);
- acne;
- decrease in libido;
- weight gain.
They usually occur in patients who menstruate less than eight times a year.
Diagnostic Methods
To diagnose and prescribe treatment for ovarian dysfunction, you will need to contact a gynecologist and endocrinologist. Each of these specialists will conduct their own types of research, the results of which will make it possible to judge the presence of the disease.
At the gynecologist's appointment, several of the following procedures and tests will be performed:
- examination on the chair;
- taking a culture from the vagina for 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;
- LG;
- FSH;
- thyroid hormones;
- adrenal hormones.
If necessary, other studies may be ordered:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
- histological examination;
- hysteroscopy;
- transvaginalsonography.
If a pituitary gland lesion is suspected, a procedure will be prescribed:
- X-ray examination of the skull;
- CT scan 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:
- on the level of platelets;
- on the level of antithrombin III;
- blood clotting;
- on the level of prothrombin;
- for bleeding time.
At reproductive age, special attention is drawn to:
- possible consequences of abortion;
- cervix and uterine cavity (is there a need for curettage);
- risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Medicated treatment
With the diagnosis of "ovarian dysfunction" you can get pregnant. But first, the patient will have to undergo treatment. The main targets of the latter will be:
- Stop bleeding and other emergencies.
- Remove the cause of ovarian dysfunction.
- Restoration of the 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.
- Cervical scraping anduterine cavity.
Drugs 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 violations of the functions of the glands (pituitary, adrenal, thyroid), appropriate hormone therapy will be prescribed.
The last stage (normalization of the menstrual cycle) requires:
- hormone therapy with oral contraceptives, as well as progesterone and other pure gestagens;
- acupuncture;
- physiotherapy;
- general strengthening therapy (for example, taking various vitamin and mineral complexes, dietary supplements, homeopathic medicines).
No less important role in the recovery process have a normal lifestyle, diet, diet, physical activity. 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 help prevent a relapse.
If a woman plans soonbecome pregnant, she will have to undergo ovulation stimulation. 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 rate of development of the follicle will be monitored. As a rule, stimulation is carried out for three cycles in a row.
If pregnancy is not in the plans for the near future, oral contraceptives will suffice. They will help restore the menstrual cycle and protect against the negative effects of the disease.
Folk treatments
Treatment of ovarian dysfunction with folk remedies is widespread. Many are convinced that the use of medicinal plants can prevent unwanted hormone therapy. Such an opinion, unfortunately, is erroneous, since the disease is based on endocrine disorders and one cannot do without the use of such drugs.
At the same time, no one forbids the use of both medications and folk remedies for the treatment of ovarian dysfunction. Feedback on such a combination that patients leave is in most cases positive.
Folk treatments include the internal use of decoctions of various medicinal plants and douching. In the first case, they usually use:
- centaury;
- licorice;
- wintergreen;
- melilot;
- coltsfoot;
- marshmallow root;
- thyme;
- dioecious nettle leaves;
- yarrow;
- St. John's wort flowers.
For douching, infusions preparedfrom:
- flowers and leaves of immortelle;
- oak bark;
- black elderberry flowers;
- daisies.
Before you start douching or drinking herbal teas, you should consult your doctor.
Preventive measures
As with any other disease, it is easier to prevent the occurrence of ovarian dysfunction than to deal with its treatment and elimination of unpleasant consequences later. In addition, there is nothing complicated in the preventive measures of this pathology. For a woman, it's easy enough:
- Maintain intimate hygiene. This will protect against the penetration of infection through the genitourinary tract to important organs - the uterus, appendages, ovaries, 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 to prevent them from becoming chronic.
- Avoid emotional and physical overwork. It is important to draw up a clear regime of work and rest.
- Do not self-medicate and in no case take unknown and potent drugs without a doctor's prescription.
- Take hormonal drugs (for example, oral contraceptives), strictly following the scheme developed by the doctor.
- Give up bad habits.
- Keep a he althy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, physicalactivity.
- No abortions. This is especially true for first pregnancies!
- Have a regular sex life 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 he alth. The treatment will pass quickly enough, and compliance with preventive measures will prevent the recurrence of the disease.
Be he althy!
