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The St. Luke Hospitals offers the Tristate’s only Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Center of Excellence, geared solely toward assisting patients with their weight management and fitness needs. As part of the Center for Reproductive Health at The St. Luke Hospitals, this treatment program provides women with PCOS with intensive one-on-one contact with nutritionists, exercise specialists, and more, all coordinated by a physician who is an expert in PCOS.
The PCOS Center of Excellence is also pleased to have
Mira Aubuchon, M.D. practicing in the Center for Reproductive Health at The St. Luke Hospitals. Dr. Aubuchon specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and reproductive endocrine disorders, with a special interest in polycystic syndrome. She, along with a team of nutritionists and fitness professionals work together to offer each patient with PCOS an individualized treatment plan to meet her specific needs.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder that interferes with a woman’s normal ovulation and is the most common cause of infertility in women. Women with PCOS may have irregular or no menstrual periods and often have other health problems, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Though the cause of PCOS is not fully understood, the disorder is treatable. During the normal menstrual cycle, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is released from the brain, causing a single egg and its surrounding fluid-filled sac (follicle) to grow in preparation of being released into the uterus (ovulation). The body also produces two hormones called estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is made to thicken the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. Progesterone is made after ovulation to prepare the uterus for possible pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, causing the shedding of the endometrium, commonly known as menstruation. In PCOS, abnormal levels of hormones lead to large ovaries containing many follicles but none that are able to grow large enough to ovulate. Thus, no egg is released and progesterone is not made. That leads to infertility and irregular menstrual bleeding. Patients also have increased male hormone levels. This causes hair growth (typically on the face and in the middle of the abdomen) that can be bothersome to the patient.
Compared to women without PCOS, PCOS patients have higher blood levels of insulin, a hormone that controls the body’s use of sugar. PCOS patients are “insulin resistant” because it takes higher levels of insulin to keep blood sugars at a normal level; once the insulin can’t keep up with the sugars, diabetes can develop. High insulin levels can also act directly on the ovary to produce higher levels of male hormones to cause more hair growth and make ovulation even more difficult.
Symptoms of PCOS
Symptoms of PCOS often start gradually and can sometimes be mistaken for symptoms of other medical conditions. It is important to note that women who suffer from PCOS can have a range of symptoms, some of which may be subtle.
Symptoms of PCOS include:
- irregular menstrual periods or no periods
- Excess hair on the face, chest, back, stomach, thumbs or toes
- Acne/pimples
- Darkened color and change in texture of the skin along the neck and armpits and on the groin and inner thigh
- Obesity
- Infertility
- Vaginal yeast infections
- Hair loss
- Depression or mood swings
Why is diagnosing PCOS important?
PCOS increases the risk of other diseases/conditions including:
Reproductive disorders:
• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• Miscarriage
• Preeclampsia
• Infertility
• Endometrial hyperplasia/ Endometrial cancer
Metabolic disorders:
• Insulin resistance
• Gestational diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity
Cardiovascular disease:
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Atherosclerosis
• Diagnosis
How can PCOS be treated?
While PCOS is a chronic condition, it can be treated in a number of ways, depending on the symptoms and the desire to become pregnant. Long-term treatment may be necessary if other medical problems arise.
In obese patients with PCOS, even a small amount of weight loss is a very powerful therapy in both long and short term. Medications such as metformin that lower insulin levels are also very helpful in promoting ovulation and pregnancy, in addition to lifestyle modification. In patients needing further treatment, options such as clomiphene citrate (Clomid), surgery or in-vitro fertilization can allow patients to achieve their family-building dreams. In addition to weight loss, birth control pills can help reduce hair growth and provide regular periods in those patients not seeking pregnancy. Progesterone-only treatments and medications to specifically target hair growth are also available.
One of the keys to managing PCOS is lowering insulin levels through lifestyle modification. Daily exercise for at least 30 minutes improves the body’s use of insulin and may relieve many of the symptoms of PCOS. Changes in eating habits and the types of foods eaten also may help lower insulin levels. Women with PCOS should decrease their intake of foods high in carbohydrates, including those found in breads, pasta, potatoes and foods that are sweet. In many women, even a 5-7% weight loss will lower insulin levels enough to allow ovulation to begin and regular periods or pregnancy to occur. It can also reduce hair growth and the risk of endometrial cancer.
Seven-Week PCOS Treatment Program
At The St. Luke Hospitals, our seven-week PCOS Treatment Program offers valuable fitness and nutrition assistance. A fitness expert from the Sports Health & Wellness Center will assess your fitness needs and offer instruction and supervision to ensure you reach your goals. The nutrition component of the program includes a one-hour, individual nutrition assessment by a registered dietitian at the start of the program, six weekly group classes led by a registered dietitian, a 30-minute individual meeting with the dietitian at the end of the six group classes, and access to monthly nutrition support group meetings.
The cost to participate in the PCOS Treatment Program is $225 for the seven-week program and $30 per month after the first seven weeks. All membership fees can be paid by check, cash or credit and are due the first of each month. Advanced membership can be paid for at two-month, six-month, and 12-month intervals. No refunds will be given.
Fitness Assessments
Your initial fitness assessments will include: resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, flexibility, girth measurements, cardiovascular fitness, height and weight, body composition, muscular strength, and muscular endurance. You will be assessed in these categories at the beginning and end of your seven-week program. Once each week, you will be assessed on heart rate, blood pressure, weight, body composition, and girth measurements. Once per week a progress report will be sent to Dr. Aubuchon regarding your participation and progress in the program.
Fitness Assistance
All new members will receive a fitness center orientation, which consists of a comprehensive fitness assessment, personalized goal-setting and exercise prescription, and facility and equipment orientation. All fitness center orientations must be scheduled. Fitness and equipment orientations take 45-60 minutes to complete. The goals set for you will be based on a seven-week program.
During your fitness center visits, you will receive professional guidance and instruction to help you gain the most benefit from your exercise routine. The fitness staff will be available for questions and assistance with equipment.
Nutrition Assessment
Each participant will receive a complete, personal nutrition assessment by a registered dietitian at the beginning of the program. This assessment will include an evaluation of current eating habits and other relevant eating behaviors as well as an individualized nutrition plan.
Nutrition
Group classes and support group meetings will focus on nutrition topics related specifically to the treatment of PCOS such as weight management principles and insulin resistance. The group sessions are designed to cover these topics in detail and provide a support system in order to help participants achieve their goals. An additional individual meeting with the dietitian at the end of the seven-week program enables the patient to ask questions, discuss challenges, and to evaluate personal goals.
About the Sports Health and Wellness Center
What to Wear
Members must dress for comfort, safety and appropriateness while visiting the Sports Health & Wellness Center facility. Members are required to wear T-shirts or other appropriate tops, shorts, and proper footwear while in the Center. In the exercise areas, supportive, closed-toe athletic shoes are required. For safety reasons, bare feet, sandals, socks only, and open toed shoes are not allowed. Members are asked to avoid wearing clothing made of rubber, beaded, or other material that would create a safety hazard for the member and would be detrimental to or damage the exercise equipment.
Sports Health & Wellness facility hours
PCOS Treatment Program Members will have access to the Fitness Center during the following hours: Monday through Thursday 4:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Friday 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. *Holiday hours will be announced one month prior to the holiday.
Contact Us
For more information or to make an appointment, please call the Center for Reproductive Health at The St. Luke Hospitals at 859-212-4687 and ask for Valerie Lambert.
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