Symptoms of Stein-Levental syndrome, the main symptoms and therapies

Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome) is a woman's hormonal condition, which is the main cause of menstrual irregularity, anovulation, which leads to infertility. The incidence of the Stein-Levental syndrome is about 3% of all gynecological diseases in women at the end of puberty and the development of genital function, at the beginning of active sexual activity (women aged 20 to 30 years are most often affected).

Historical facts

The first discoverers of the Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, who first described this state in detail, were the scientists Stein and Leventhal, in whose honor it got its name.

The first and only method of treatment was radical surgery. Removing the sites with the largest cysts allowed in some cases to return fertility (fertility) to a woman, to restore the onset of ovulation and the possibility of having children. But such a cardinal solution of the problem did not always lead to success, and also contributed to the formation of adhesions and other complications.

Clinical picture

Stein-Leventhal's disease is characterized by increased secretion of male and female sex hormones, abnormalities in ovarian function, irregular ovulation or lack of them at all, hypersecretion of the adrenal cortex and pancreas. It is also characterized by a disorder of the menstrual cycle and infertility.

Women suffering from a syndrome can not become pregnant due to the lack of ovulation. And if they succeed, the child's bearing is given to them extremely hard, there is a significant risk of miscarriage or premature birth.

With correctly appointed treatment, the prognosis is favorable, and most women are able to bear and give birth to healthy children.

Causes

Until the end of the circumstances are unknown, causing the emergence of pathology. There is a hereditary predisposition, as well as conditions that are part of the risk group, under which the Stein-Levental syndrome can develop. The reasons can be as follows:

• Genetic predisposition, the presence of a syndrome in an anamnesis in someone from family members, blood relatives. It is possible that the syndrome can be transmitted by inheritance. The most common are women who have had cases of polycystic ovaries in the family, as well as other conditions characterized by abnormal ovarian enlargement, proliferation of their membranes.
• Diseases of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, for example, congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex.
• Fibroids of the uterus.
• Mastopathy.
• Violation of the processes of synthesis of estrogens in the ovaries.

Indirect causes of the syndrome

For indirect reasons, which can provoke polycystic ovary, you can refer:

• Obesity, a sharp increase in body weight;
• Cancers;
• metabolic disease;
• Presence of cardiovascular diseases (stroke, myocardial infarction, hypertension);
• diabetes.

When should I see a doctor?

There are alarm signals that may indicate Stein-Levental syndrome. These signs do not yet speak about the final diagnosis, but are just an occasion to visit a doctor to check their health. These include:

• Male-type haemorrhage (hirsutism) is the very first sign and symptom that can indicate the development of the polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Violation of the menstrual cycle, its irregularity, too scarce blood discharge.
• Infertility, the inability to conceive a child, the inability to bear fruit, miscarriages.
• Acne, acne, greasiness of the skin, too oily scalp and hair.

Main symptoms

Stein-Leventhal syndrome is characterized by the presence of symptoms that can be observed in most of the sick women:

• Scanty menstruation, a violation of the cycle, the absence of ovulation.
• Obesity with fat in the abdomen.
• Underdevelopment of the uterus.
• Alopecia in the region of the vertex, the presence of lateral bald patches and in the forehead.
• Enlargement of ovaries, appearance of a multitude of cysts on their surfaces.
• Depression, apathy, nervousness, irritability, aggression.
• Increase the level of male hormones androgens in the blood (testosterone, androstenedione).
• Symptoms similar to premenstrual syndrome (swelling of the mammary glands, pulling pain in the lower abdomen, frequent changes in mood, swelling, pain in the lower back).
• Involuntary arrest of breathing in sleep (apnea), which leads to sleep disturbance, lack of sleep, fatigue.
• Chronic pain in the lower abdomen caused by overgrowth of the ovaries' endometrium, pulling states.
• Enlargement and thickening of the endometrium of the uterus due to the production of excessive estrogen.
• Decrease in the level of globulin.
• Increase insulin levels in the blood.

Changes in appearance

Most often, women morally suffer the syndrome of Stein-Leventhal. The appearance of a woman is not changing for the better, which is the reason for discomfort, self-doubt, moral suffering and depression. The most unpleasant problem is the appearance of hair where there should not be a woman. The shape of the mammary glands does not change, just like the physique. The most unpleasant symptoms that lead to dissatisfaction with your body are:

• Fat deposition in the abdomen;
• Increased fat content of the skin, acne;
• The appearance of stretch marks, striae on the hips, abdomen and buttocks;
• Dark pigmentation spots on the skin;
• Seborrhea, increased skin peeling, dandruff;
• Hair loss, male hair loss;
• Small wrinkles and folds on the skin.

The ovaries grow pathologically in size, their shell thickens, becomes dense and shiny. On their surface appears a large number of follicular cysts, there is severe vascular sclerosis and proliferation of connective tissue.

Hirsutism

The most unpleasant symptom of Stein-Levental syndrome is hirsutism. It is characterized by the appearance of hard and long hair on the body of a woman in the male type: in the chest, on the stomach, cheeks, over the upper lip, chin, and also on the upper back, along the spine, around the nipples.

Treatment of the syndrome does not lead to getting rid of excess hair. To get rid of them, laser, photo and electro-epilation are used, which will completely remove excess hair for a long time. And with several repeated procedures and forever.

Diagnostics

The condition is diagnosed if there are several signs most characteristic of women who are concerned about the Stein-Levental syndrome. Photos of women suffering from the syndrome prove that not all have pronounced hirsutism due to the production of male sex hormones in excess of the norm. Therefore, the main attributes include:

1. Excessive activity and secretion of male sex hormones (androgens).
2. Very rare ovulation - oligoovulation. Or the absence of them at all - anovulation.
3. Polycystic ovaries have been found with ultrasound if there are no other obvious reasons for the formation of cysts.
4. Significant increase in ovaries from both sides.

Diagnosis with X-ray and ultrasound is carried out.

Indicators of analysis

In the blood there is a decrease in the level of estrogens, but an increase in androgen hormones. And also increases their excretion in the urine.

To diagnose the syndrome, special hormonal tests (chorionic gonadotropin or progesterone) are used, which are excreted in a high concentration in the urine, which indicates their excessive formation in the ovaries.

Traditional medical treatment

The main principle in the treatment is to ensure the appearance of ovulation in a woman with a diagnosis of "Stein-Levental syndrome." Treatment is long-term and complex, mainly carried out with the help of medicinal hormonal drugs.

Estrogen-containing gestagens are used (Ovidon, Regevidon). Also in the complex therapy use antiandrogens, which effectively eliminate the symptoms of androgenization, limiting the synthesis of these hormones and their hypersecretion in the glands.

The treatment of the Stein-Levental syndrome by folk remedies can also be effective in achieving a goal such as the onset of pregnancy. Mostly, various herbal infusions are used.

If the positive effect of the drugs is not observed within six months, then surgical methods for solving the problem are in use - wedge resection of the ovaries. In some cases, scraping of the uterus is recommended. Also, these methods are considered effective in the pathological proliferation of the endometrium by more than 20% at the age of 30 years.

The most modern and gentle method, which prevents the formation of adhesions, is laparoscopy (microrectomy, electropuncture, laser vaporization).

After the operation, the women are shown compulsory observation of the doctor and medical examination. In the event that six months later it turned out that the treatment of Stein-Levental syndrome did not help, medication is prescribed again. After surgery, the response to medications increases, which allows for good results.

Preventive measures against the development of the syndrome does not exist, since the nature and causes of its occurrence have not been fully studied. Hairy according to the male principle may be the first alarm bell, which speaks of the onset of the syndrome of polycystic ovaries, so if you have any signs of unusual changes in appearance, you should contact a specialist.

Stein-Levental Syndrome: Herbal Medicine

Treatment with folk methods, and in particular herbs, should in no case be used as an independent therapy and the replacement of traditional methods. This is just one of the components that can become effective only with an integrated approach.

In order to increase the likelihood of pregnancy, it is necessary to take the tinctures of the following herbs:

• Spore one tablespoon of pour one glass of boiling water. After being infused (2-3 hours), take half the glass before each meal.
• Tincture of the Adam's root is prepared exactly the same way, only to insist it should be more than 2 hours, wrapped in a towel or other warm cloth. Take one tablespoon of the remedy before meals 4 times a day.
• Tincture of medicinal sage should be similar. Take it three times a day, dividing the glass into three meals, no later than half an hour before meals.
• Ledum marsh is brewed in the proportion of 1 glass of water per 1 teaspoon of herb, it is insisted for about 8 hours, after which it is taken half the glass before meals during the day.
• To prepare a tincture from the collection of herbs, you need parsley leaves, motherwort, hips, psyllium, melissa, calendula flowers, sage, string, strawberry leaflets and St. John's wort 10 gram. Fill everything in a thermos, pour boiling water (250 ml), insist no more than 20 minutes. Then pour into another container and insist for about half an hour. Take three times a day before eating half the glass.

To achieve the best result during treatment, the following foods that contain a lot of vitamins of groups A, E, C and B should be included in the woman's diet:

• garlic:
• radish;
• celery;
• Fruits of pistachios;
• Green onions;
• corn;
• Grapes.

Consequences and Risks

Inadequate treatment can lead to various consequences. Because of the excessive production of androgens, which is characterized by Stein-Levental syndrome, the appearance of a woman can be catastrophically changed, but also more serious diseases, such as:

• diabetes;
• Breast cancer;
• stroke;
• Heart attack;
• Endometrial cancer, hyperplasia.

Mechanisms for the development of pathology have not yet been fully understood. More recently, scientists have managed to select an effective drug therapy, when previously only surgical methods of treatment were categorically applied. In modern medical practice, many cases of almost complete recovery are recorded. Women resume menstruation, ovulation occurs, and with it a chance to successfully conceive, endure and give birth to a healthy baby. Do not start a state, every woman can be helped. How effective assistance will be depends not only on the individual course of the disease, but also on its timely diagnosis, the use of complex therapy.