INFLUENCE OF LIFESTYLE ON THE PROGNOSIS OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Abstract

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine-metabolic pathology among women at reproductive age. It has a multifactorial character, and its etiology has not yet been precisely explained. The pathogenesis of PCOS is related to metabolic issues such as hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance, and is also associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and increased cardiovascular risk. Manifestations such as irregular menstruation, acne, hisurtism and androgenic alopecia are common in addition to the consequent psychological and quality of life impacts. Thus, knowing that the adoption of healthy habits have therapeutic impacts in the face of various signs and symptoms of PCOS, there is a need to analyze the influence of lifestyle on the prognosis of PCOS. The present study carried out its searches in the PUBMED database, using the descriptors "polycystic ovary syndrome", "life style" and "prognosis", using the Boolean operator "and". Inclusion criteria were used: articles written in Portuguese, English and Spanish, published in the last 5 years. 19 results were obtained, 5 of which were excluded, resulting in 14 articles chosen for theoretical reference. The influence of lifestyle on the prognosis of PCOS is notorious, especially in patients with overweight and obesity. Thus, healthy behaviors have the potential to improve pathological conditions and bad habits demonstrate that they can induce clinical manifestations of PCOS in predisposed people. Lifestyle changes, mainly associated with weight loss, show improvements in aspects such as insulin resistance, free testosterone, acne, hirsutism and reproductive function, reduced cardiovascular risk, in addition to positively influence to the psychic and quality of life in analyzed patients. Therapeutic strategies that combine lifestyle changes and drug interventions have been shown to be more effective, as well as strategies structered with the monitoring of professionals tend to increase adherence to treatment.