Description:
A woman has two walnut-sized ovaries located on either side of the uterus, nestled under the fringed ends of the fallopian or uterine tubes. These tubes create a pathway for a released egg to reach uterus. During menstrual cycle, one follicle in one of the ovaries will develop and release one egg which is released around 14th of the menstrual cycle.

Ovarian Cysts
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac usually found on the surface of an ovary. There are many types of ovarian cysts, each with a different underlying cause. Many women will have them at some point during their childbearing years and generally it is presented without any symptoms, however, some types can cause serious health problems.

Poly-cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS):
The term syndrome refers to the association of several clinically recognizable features, leading to possible co-relations. It is understood better by the term syndrome derives from the Greek and means literally "run together". So, PCOS is a total body endocrine disease.

Clinical Feutures/ Causes:

• Irregular periods - usually on the order of every 2 to 3 months or even
• Increased androgen (male hormone) production. Therefore, women with PCOS almost always have facial hirsutism (excessive hair) and acne.
• Obesity is common with the women having PCOS.
• Insulin resistance is a common future in women with PCOS i.e improper insulin synthesis will lead to PCOS

Prevalence:
Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome - PCOS - is the most common endocrine disease that affects women of reproductive age (puberty to menopause). affects approximately 10% of women in the reproductive age group.

The causes are due to hereditary factors, male androgen production, Insulin Resistance, known diabetic or known family history of diabetes.

PCOS are the important and primary reason for female infertility.
Treatment:
In the modern medicine, PCOS is treated by

1. Regularizing menstrual cycles: Oral contraceptives
2. Andorgen factors: Hormonal therapy, in precise this treatment is aimed to reduce the levels of androgens.
3. Enhanced Ovulation: Clomifene Citrate will optimize the production of ovaries, leaving little chance for the cysts to develop
4. Anti-obesity: Anti-obesity drugs, diet and exercise
5. Insulin Resistance: Metformin, Rosiglitazone, Pioglitazone

1. Oral Contraceptives/ Harmonal therapy: This medication may cause dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, stomach upset, bloating, or nausea. Long term side effects includes the risk of cancer and cardiovascular abnormalities
2. Clomifene Citrate and other ovulating medications: Ovarian enlargement, Hot flushes, nausea, vomiting, breast discomfort and visual disturbances like blurred vision
3. Obesity and diabetes Medication: Cardiovascular abnormalities, hypoglycemia especially in non-diabetics

Saw Palmetto:
One of the most troubling symptoms of women with PCOS is hirsutism (too much hair, in the wrong places). Hirsutism is thought to be mostly due to excessive levels of androgenic hormones. Examples of androgens are testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEA.

Women, presented with higher than the normal levels of testosterone lead to the conversion of a more potent hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is the hormone that stimulates hirsutism.
Mechanism of Action:
Saw palmetto

• Inhibits DHT production
• Inhibits the binding of DHT to its cell receptors
• Breaks down DHT

Testosterone is converted into DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. 5-alpha-reductase is inhibited by saw palmetto, and thus less DHT is produced and hirsutism may be reduced.

Saw palmetto may be helpful in another way. A high level of estrogen may inhibit the elimination of DHT. Some women with PCOS have estrogen levels that are too high. It is reported to have an anti-estrogenic effect, thus helping with the removal of DHT.
Benefits:
Saw palmetto reduces following symptoms:

• Hirsutism (too much hair in the wrong places)
• Hair loss

Co-Q 10:
One of the other reasons for PCOS is insulin resistance, not necessarily to the level of diabetes and obesity.

Mechanism of Action:
CoEnzyme Q10 is also known as ubiquinone, a member of the quinone cyclic compounds such as Vitamins E and K. CoQ10 can supply or remove oxygen from biologically active molecules. Every cell in our body contains many intercellular components called mitochondria, which produce 95% of the total energy of the body. CoQ10 is an integral part of the membranes of the mitochondria where it is involved in the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the basic energy molecules of the cell. Supplementing CoQ10 aids in the body's cellular respiration and energy production.

Benefits:
Co-Q10 facilitates the production of energy and may helps to burn calories which are normally converted to fat. One study showed that people on a low fat diet double their weight loss when they supplemented with Co-Q10. Co-Q10 has also been proven useful in controlling blood sugar. Hence these supplements will provide additional effects for the treatment of PCOS.

Vitamin B-6:
Quite a number of vitamins and minerals are helpful for normalizing insulin and androgens, or reducing the effects of testosterone. They include vitamin B6.
B6 appears to reduce the production of prolactin, a hormone that causes testosterone to be taken up by tissues. Some women with PCOS have too much prolactin. Vitamin B6 also dampens the responsiveness of cells to hormones, and when there is a vitamin B6 deficiency, the cells appear to have an exaggerated response to hormones.

Magnesium:

• Women with PCOS are known to have a high incidence of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, and tend to be at eventual high risk for hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  
• Optimal intake of magnesium has been shown to be helpful for all of these health problems.
• In addition, magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. So you can imagine how important it is.