Question:
My name is Suzanne
and I have two a questions.
I would like to
know if polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with the appearance
of thyroid nodules.
Can the treatment
for PCOS cure thyroid nodules?
Answer:
Dear
Suzanne,
Polycystic
ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a endocrine disorder (hormone imbalance)
that affects approximately 5% of all women.
PCOS
affects the ovaries (the organs in a woman's body that produce eggs).
In PCOS,
the ovaries are bigger than average, and the outer surface of the
ovary has an abnormally large number of small follicles.
The term
thyroid nodule refers to any abnormal growth of thyroid cells into
a lump within the thyroid.
The hypothalamus
is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with
a variety of functions.
The hypothalamus-pituitary
system controls the ovarian function, and the ovarian function also
controls the hypothalamus-pituitary system.
The thyroid
gland produces two main hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
The rate at which these hormones are released is part of a carefully
controlled system involving the thyroid gland, the pituitary gland
and the hypothalamus - that acts as a thermostat for this system.
The major
glands that make up the human endocrine system include the: hypothalamus,
pituitary gland, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands, pineal body
and reproductive glands (which include the ovaries and testes).
