Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Connie H
- Dec 28, 2022
- 2 min read
What is PCOS?
According to the Mayo Clinic, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS for short, is “is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age”, which is referred to as women from ages 15 to 44 (1).
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of PCOS vary for each person. However, common symptoms include irregular periods, acne, excessive body & facial hair, infertility, and weight gain.
Infertility/greater risks of miscarriages or premature birth
Irregular periods
Heavy bleeding
Lack of ovulation (eggs do not mature to ovulation)
Acne or irregular body hair (hirsutism)
Higher risk of diabetes or high blood pressure
Hair loss
Weight gain
Pelvic pain
Darkened skin or excess skin (skin tags)
Metabolic Syndrome
Sleep apnea
Depression, anxiety, and eating disorders
Abnormal uterine bleeding
Endometrial cancer (caused by a lack of ovulation)
Cysts in ovaries
Additionally, your reproductive hormones are unbalanced when you have PCOS. Androgens, or male hormones, are usually higher in women with PCOS. People with PCOS may not correctly react to insulin, which manages your blood sugar. Lastly, the low progesterone hormones in people with PCOS can contribute to irregular periods.
How common is PCOS?
According to Penn Medicine, they estimate 5-10% of women in the U.S. of reproductive age have PCOS. However, there might be more women affected by PCOS since “less than half of all women with PCOS are actually diagnosed correctly” (5 Myths About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)).
What are the causes of PCOS?
The cause of PCOS isn’t clear but your genes, inflammation, or high insulin level could be related to the high androgen levels that affect people with PCOS.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
If you have concerns about: irregular periods, acne, baldness, hair growth, or infertility, then you should consult a doctor whether you have PCOS. The doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and conduct a physical exam to find symptoms of PCOS. They may also use an ultrasound test to look at your uterus, a pelvic exam to check for growths or a blood test to check for androgen levels.
What are the treatments for PCOS?
Your treatments for PCOS vary depending on your symptoms and your desired outcomes.
If you plan to become pregnant, your doctor may recommend some medicine (Clomiphene).
If you are overweight, your doctor may assist you in losing a small portion of your weight through diets and exercises.
If you have insulin resistance, your doctor may prescribe you metformin.
If you’re not interested in becoming pregnant but interested in controlling your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe you hormonal birth control. Hormonal birth control will help regulate your periods, help with acne, help with excessive body hair, and endometrial cancer (uterus lining cancer).
Always Remember…
Not every woman with PCOS will become infertile, so you should consult your doctor about your condition first.
PCOS can affect people of all sizes, and weight gain is only an outcome of PCOS.
Consult your doctor before using hormonal birth control.
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