PCOS is a medical hormonal disorder that affects women of childbearing age. It’s a complex medical condition that affects 8%–13% of women (age 14–50 years).
It causes irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, and infertility. However, you don’t need to have cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS.
Women with PCOS produce higher amounts of male hormones (androgen). This hormonal imbalance causes their body to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to conceive.
PCOS also causes excess hair growth on the face and body and baldness. It can also contribute to long-term health conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
PCOS affects a woman’s ovaries, the reproductive organs that produce estrogen and progesterone hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown but early diagnosis and treatment along with weight loss may lower the risk.
SYMPTOMS
Fertility Issues: Difficulty getting pregnant due to ovulation problems.
Acne: Pimples and oily skin.
Cysts on the Ovaries: Multiple cysts on the ovaries and can be detected by ultrasound on the pelvic.
Irregular Periods: Frequent or prolonged periods.
Polycystic Ovaries: Your ovaries might be bigger and many follicles containing immature eggs may develop around the ovary.
Skin Darkening: You might have dark patches in your groins, armpits, under the breasts etc.
Hormonal Imbalance: High levels of androgen (male hormones) in the body.
Abnormal Hair Growth: More than 70% of women with this condition grow hairs on their face and body including on their back, belly, and chest. Excess hair growth is called (hirsutism).
You can have PCOS and don’t have any symptoms. Some people don’t realize until they are finding it difficult to get pregnant.
PCOS signs and symptoms can be severe with people that are obese.
PCOS CAN BE LINKED TO:
Insulin resistance: the body’s inability to regulate blood sugar levels in the body effectively. Up to 70 percent of women with PCOS have insulin resistance, meaning that their cells can’t use insulin properly.
Genetics: If there is a multiple family history.
Stress.
Obesity.
When to see an expert or health care provider:
Consult your health provider (experts) if you’re having trouble getting pregnant or you’re worried about your period irregularity.
COMPLICATIONS
It may increase your risk for certain pregnancy complications but some women with PCOS are able to carry a pregnancy successfully.
METABOLIC SYNDROME: Up to 80 percent of women with PCOS are overweight or have obesity. Both obesity and PCOS increase your risk for:
High blood sugar
High blood pressure
Low HDL “good” cholesterol
High LDL “bad” cholesterol
Together, these factors are called metabolic syndrome, and they increase the risk for:
Heart disease
Diabetes
Stroke
Sleeping apnea: A disruptive sleep patterns that causes pauses in breathing while sleeping.
Infertility.
Miscarriage: It may increase your risk for certain pregnancy complications, but most women with PCOS are able to carry a pregnancy successfully.
Endometrial cancer: This is a type of cancer that affects the uterine lining. Your health care provider might recommend an ultrasound to check the appearance of your ovaries and uterine lining.
Depression: Both hormonal changes and symptoms like unwanted hair growth can negatively affect your emotions. Many with PCOS eventually experience depression and anxiety.
TREATMENT
While there is no cure for PCOS, treatment options include;
LIFESTYLE CHANGES: Healthy diet and regular exercise. Losing weight may increase the effectiveness of the medications your health care provider (experts) recommend for PCOS and it can help with infertility. Your health care provider and a professional dietitian can work with you to enable the best weight loss plan.
METFORMIN: One study found that taking metformin while making changes to diet and exercise improves weight loss, lowers blood sugar, and restores a normal menstrual cycle better than changes to diet and exercise alone.
Clomidone: Is a fertility drug that can help women with PCOS get pregnant. It’s important to note that, as you’re discussing family planning, to keep in mind that clomiphene increases the chances for twins and other multiple births.
SUMMARY
You can get pregnant if you have PCOS; although it can be hard to conceive, many people with PCOS do get pregnant on their own.
You can still be in your menopause and have PCOS, but the hormone changes you experience during menopause can resolve the symptoms of PCOS.
The type of treatment options for PCOS depends on whether the woman wants to get pregnant.
You can’t prevent PCOS, but you can take small steps to reduce your symptoms.