Efficacy and Safety of Furocyst in Patients With Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is considered as clinical and public health consequence involving increase in number of cysts in women at reproductive age. These cysts are under-developed sacs in which eggs are developed. In PCOS, these sacs are unable to release an egg which means ovulation doesn't take place.

The estimated 5-10% prevalence of PCOS is reported in women of reproductive age. A study from Spain also reported that 28.3% prevalence rate of PCOS is among 113 overweight or obese women who were referred to an endocrinology clinic for weight loss. This data was compared with a previously reported prevalence of 6.5% which suggests that the prevalence of PCOS might be markedly increasing with obesity.

PCOS impacts significantly on various hormonal cycles. With PCOS, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels become higher than follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Because of this increase in LH levels, the LH surge does not take place and ovulation doesn't carry out which results in irregular menstrual cycle. The irregular menstrual period produces oligomenorrhea (few menstrual periods) or amenorrhea (no menstrual periods) and infertility due to irregular or lack of ovulation. PCOS also produces high levels of masculinizing hormones with symptoms of acne and hirsutism, hypermenorrhea involving heavy and prolonged menstrual periods and androgenic alopecia (increase hair thinning and diffused hair loss). The other metabolic syndromes associated with PCOS are increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels and obesity.

These complications arise because of the genetically determined cause of the PCOS i.e. hyper- secretion of androgens from the ovary which favours excess luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and insulin resistance. However, insulin resistance with or without a genetic mutation may be the initiator, followed by hyper-androgenism. Thus, insulin resistance is an important contributing factor to abnormal steroidogenesis in PCOS because hyper-insulinemia stimulates the pathway of insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in theca cells of the ovary by cross-reacting with the receptors of IGF. Stimulation of the ovarian theca cells increases the production of androgens (eg, testosterone, androstenedione) which in turn, blocks the down-regulation of androgens by LH surge and leads to the hyper-androgenic environment in the ovary. Because of a decreased level of FSH relative to LH, the ovarian granulosa cells cannot aromatize the androgens to estrogens, which lead to decreased estrogen levels and results in anovulation.

Treatments for PCOS are chosen based on woman's symptoms, age and future pregnancy plans which may include birth control pills to regulate menstruation, insulin-sensitizing medications, ovulation induction to treat infertility, androgen-blocking medications, topical anti-hair-growth medications, etc.