Ovaries
Your ovaries are major hormone producers. How they function impacts your health on many levels. Ovarian dysfunction may lead to discomfort, hormonal imbalance with mood swings, irregular bleeding or breast pain, or medical conditions such as endometriosis, cycsts, PCOS or, rarely, cancer.
If you or your consultant are concerned that symptoms may stem from ovarian dysfunction, non-invasive ultrasound scanning can give detailed information, and may be followed up with further tests. Careful diagnosis allows us to build a clear picture of your ovarian function, and offer appropriate treatment.
Your gynaecologist will talk to you about your symptoms and offer an examination.
Cutting edge 3D and 4D ultrasound scanning in the hands of CDS allows detailed visualisation of your ovaries and their function to assist with diagnosis. By scanning we can observe follicle changes and ovulation and screen for fertility, cysts, endometriosis and cancer. Very occasionally more detailed diagnostic tools are needed, including MRI scans or laparoscopy.
Blood tests are useful to screen for hormonal disturbances such as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome, sometimes referred to as PCO); to check the reserve of eggs for future fertility; and to predict the menopause. Checking CA 125 blood levels is useful after the menopause as a screen for ovarian cancer.
If your ovarian hormones need balancing there are a number of possibilities at Viveka:
Medication often has a beneficial effect. It may help to reduce overactivity in the ovaries, balance hormones and treat PCOS. Surgery is useful to treat endometriosis and adhesions around the ovaries. Our preferred technique is laparoscopy, which is minimally invasive and usually very effective.
Complementary therapies ranging from acupuncture to homeopthy and osteopathy have a positive effect for many women. They may assist with hormone balance, pain relief and improve ovarian function. They are often used in conjunction with medication and can offer great benefits following surgery.
Your hormonal symptoms may improve significantly with lifestyle changes, whether or not medication or surgery is recommended. Exercise balanced with relaxation is known to contribute to improved hormonal balance, and may also help to reduce pain. Guidance is available from our life coach, and you may enjoy learning visualisations with our hypnotherapist or jeyarani specialists. What you eat, and your levels of minerals and vitamins, may also be a factor: you may want a personal check and advice from a nutritionist.
You may choose counselling or psychotherapy for additional care, perhaps to reduce your anxiety or feelings of stress, for support during diagnosis and following medical treatment, or to look at personal issues that underpin a feeling of emotional unease. Many women find that devoting attention to their emotional feelings, and learning to have their needs met in daily life, boosts their hormone balance and overall health. Viveka's 'Emo' team includes a highly experienced personal and family therapist, a hypnotherapist, a psychotherapist and a life coach.
Did you know?
Polycystic ovaries don’t mean goodbye to fertility. Many women get pregnant with this and other gynae conditions: a chat with your specialist may dispel your worries.
