Pcos Syndrome

Evidence Based Project: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a difficult, life changing condition for many women (Madnani, Khan, Chauhan & Parmar, 2013). In the United States alone, PCOS affects approximately 5 million women of childbearing age. The price tag to the health care system for PCOS identification and management is approximately 4 billion dollars yearly (National Institute of Health Office of Disease Prevention, 2014).

Background Information

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complicated condition that involves the endocrine system. Research have shown that it is a condition that is often present in women of reproductive ages, its main cause is not fully understood, but researcher have speculate that it is mainly a result from factors such as obesity, excessive insulin production and genetics. Women with this condition often present with excess androgen production, irregular periods, and polycystic ovaries-enlarged ovaries which contain fluid. Because of the excessive androgen production ovulation problems, acne, excessive body, facial hair (Hirsutism), baldness and increased obesity occur (Legro, Arslanian, Ehrmann, Hoeger, Murad, Pasquali, & Welt, 2013). Another entity that is present with PCOS is abnormally

increase insulin production (Legro et al., 2013).
Typically, symptoms of PCOS includes excessive body hair on areas such as the back, face, stomach chest, toes ( hirsutism) which normally does not occur in women. Other symptoms includes infertility, excessive weight gain, sleep apnea, ovarian cyst, irregular menstrual cycle, and pelvic pain, (Legro et al., 2013).
The diagnosis of PCOS is usually made due to exclusion of other disorder, presentation of oligomenorrhea and or anovulation and clinical or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism and or polycystic ovaries (Roe, Prochaska, Smith, Sammel, & Dokras, 2013).
Significance of the Problem
PCOS negatively impacts woman’s quality of life and increases their risk for morbidity such as, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, increased obesity, infertility and endometrial and breast cancer. Having PCOS along with these morbidity leads to more health problems, which intern increases the cost to the health care system. PCOS burdens to women and the health system as a whole makes it an area of interest (National Institute of Health Office of Disease Prevention, 2014).
The Relevance of PCOS
PCOS is relevant to this writer’s role as an advanced practitioner because of its high prevalence, it being the most common endocrine disorder among female, ages 18 to 44 years and its associated reproductive and metabolic complications (National Institute of Health Office of Disease Prevention, 2014).

PCOS symptoms can drastically affect a women’s wellbeing and mental state, which increases her risk for developing anxiety and depression. There is also the effect of social and marital maladjustment and sexual dysfunction. Overall PCOS offers a reduction in health related quality of life for women, which makes it a relevant topic to this writer’s role (Bazarganipour, Taghavi, Montazeri, Ahmadi, Chaman, & Khosravi,

2015).
Role of Advanced Practice Nurse
The role of the advanced practice nurse is to manage PCOS appropriately, to optimized health promotion and the best quality of life physically and mentally (Bazarganipour et al., 2015). Since a main contributor of PCOS is obesity, advanced nurse practitioners should promote lifestyle changes, which includes healthier eating habits, increased exercise and weight loss as a priority in women with PCOS (Bates & Legro, 2013).