Body hair . Weight gain . Severe acne . If that sounds distilled from the nightmares of teenage girls , it might be . It also describes the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ), a condition that affects about 10 to 15 percent of teenage girls .
“ Being a teenager in this society is hard regardless ,” says Melanie Cree Green , MD , PhD , pediatric endocrinologist and Director of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Clinic at Children ’ s Hospital Colorado . “ For these girls , it ’ s incredibly difficult .”
One of the first and only clinics of its kind in the nation , the PCOS Clinic is geared specifically toward helping combat the day-to-day difficulties and adverse effects of this non-lifethreatening but seriously life-impacting syndrome . It grew out of Children ’ s Colorado ’ s Lifestyle Medicine Clinic , which brings together dieticians , psychologists , exercise physiologists , and others to help with weight management in kids and teens .
Adding endocrinologists , gynecologists , and dermatologists to the mix , Dr . Cree Green ’ s model is equipped to research and treat every aspect of the disease , from acne to a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes .
“ Our first study enrolled 75 girls and looked at type 2 diabetes risk and fatty liver disease in girls with PCOS ,” says Dr . Cree Green . “ We found that 45 percent had fatty liver disease , as well as signs of early heart disease .”
That ’ s cause for concern . Fatty liver disease is on its way to becoming the number-one cause of liver transplants in the U . S ., says Dr . Cree Green . “ So if 10 to 15 percent of U . S . women have PCOS , and 45 percent of them have fatty liver disease , that ’ s a big public health problem .”
Compounding the problem is that there ’ s currently no medication to treat the underlying causes of the disease . There ’ s not even a therapy to reliably treat the symptoms . Over time , Dr . Cree Green hopes study data will help identify new treatments and drugs to target the disease at its roots .
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DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY
Until then , the clinic offers girls with PCOS highly individualized treatment and , perhaps more importantly , a system of much-needed support . Through monthly groups and classes , girls can learn strategies for dealing with PCOS not just from healthcare providers , but from each other — making life , for now , just a little less incredibly difficult .