Question: I want to know if PCOS can get better after losing weight with the LapBand?
Answer from Dr. Rachael Keilin, weight loss doctor in Texas.
Great question! We’ve seen a fair number of patients referred to us by their gynecologists since they have weight related PCOS. Let’s look at some facts. A recent study that was presented at the national meeting for weight loss surgeons found that an astounding 5.5% of young women getting weight loss surgery had PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). That’s over 1 in 20! These women, ranging in age from 22-39 suffer from features that we see commonly in weight loss surgery candidates: excessive facial and body hair (hirsutism), irregular periods (both excessively heavy and sometimes almost non-existent) and infertility. That makes PCOS almost as common as diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea in overweight women. But while those two medical problems are recognized by insurance companies as solid justification for weight loss surgery, the relationship of PCOS to being overweight is not as commonly acknowledged by commercial insurance carriers.
What was truly remarkable about this study is that over half of the PCOS sufferers showed resolution of their symptoms within one year of surgery. For some this meant the long anticipated birth of a child, for others it meant never wondering again when their next period might be and if it would last for weeks at a time. While some medical therapies have shown mild promise in helping alleviate the symptoms of PCOS (such as facial hair and acne), none show the kind of global resolution of all symptoms the way significant weight loss can.
This is actually one of several papers published in the last few years addressing the role of dramatic weight loss in women’s health specifically. Other papers have echoed the decrease in infertility after surgical weight loss and even the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have come out with a formal position paper stating that weight loss achieved through surgery can make pregnancy safer for both mother and child, as well as increase the possibility of conceiving a child in the first place. More research needs to be done focusing on women and their specific medical issues but these studies offer a real glimmer of hope to many young women without any good alternatives to a difficult constellation of problems.
Sorry for the long answer, but I hope the facts help you make an informed decision. Good luck!
Posted by Dr. Rachael Keilin+
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