1 in 5 Women Suffer From Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health condition that is said to affect at least 1 in 10 women (although some research figures say it’s more like 1 in 5 women) to some degree. The direct cause of PCOS is unclear however most experts think that several factors, including genetics, could play a role. It’s said that women with PCOS are more likely to have a mother or sister with PCOS. It has been reported to occur in girls as young as 11 years old.

It is known though that a main underlying problem with PCOS is a hormonal imbalance. In women with PCOS, the ovaries make more androgens also known as “male hormones” although females also naturally produce them (but in small amounts normally). High levels of these androgens affect the development and release of eggs during ovulation.

There is also a link between the hormone Insulin which is the hormone that controls blood sugar levels. Many women with PCOS have produce too much Insulin because their bodies have difficulty in regulating its production and using it efficiently. Excess insulin can also in turn increase production of androgens.

The Effect of PCOS on Physical Appearance The effect of PCOS on appearance is due to the high presence of androgens (male hormones) which causes the persistent appearance of facial hair (as well as hair to the legs, armpits, abdomen and arms) blemishes and weight gain particularly the mid-section.

The Effect of PCOS on the Menstrual Cycle and the Ability to have Children The menstrual cycle is affected by missed or irregular periods. The ability to bare children is affected by the hormone imbalances which affect ovulation as well as the growth of cysts (lumps/ fluid filled sacs) on the ovaries.

In women with PCOS, the ovaries don't make all the hormones needed for an egg to fully mature. The follicles may start to grow and build up fluid but ovulation does not occur. Instead, some follicles may remain as cysts. For these reasons, ovulation does not occur and the hormone progesterone is not made. Without progesterone, a woman's menstrual cycle is irregular or absent.

The Effect of PCOS on the Heart and Blood Vessels Because of the Insulin factor to PCOS, the heart and blood vessels can be affected in the say way that diabetes affects them.

Symptoms of PCOS The symptoms of PCOS can vary from woman to woman. Some of the symptoms of PCOS include:

• Infrequent, absent, and/or irregular menstrual periods

• Infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating. In fact, PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.

• Cysts on the ovaries (fluid-filled sacs/ lumps)

• Acne, oily skin, or dandruff

• Increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes

• Weight gain or obesity, usually with extra weight around the mid-section

• Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair

• Skin tags — excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area

• Patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black

• Pelvic pain

• Anxiety or depression

Normal ovary and polycystic ovary

Does PCOS change at menopause?

Yes and no. PCOS affects many systems in the body. So, many symptoms may persist even though ovarian function and hormone levels change as a woman nears menopause. For instance, excessive hair growth continues, and male-pattern baldness or thinning hair gets worse after menopause. Also, the risks of complications (health problems) from PCOS, such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, increase as a woman gets older.

How Do You Know If You Have PCOS? If you suffer from the listed symptoms then your first point of call is to speak to your doctor or healthcare provider. It’s important to understand that there is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Your doctor will take the following steps to find out if you have PCOS or if something else is causing your symptoms.

1. Medical history and Physical Examination Your doctor will ask about your menstrual periods, weight changes, and other symptoms and it is therefore important that you take note of any changes or fluctuations to your cycles, weight and manifestations of other symptoms. A physical examination of your blood pressure, body mass, waist-to-hip ration and hair growth may also be carried out. With this in mind allow hair growth for a few days before a visit to the doctors so to make it easy for him/ her to identify hair growth patterns.

2. Pelvic Exam & Vaginal Ultrasound (sonogram) An examination of your pelvic region and/ or an ultrasound scan might be warranted to check if your ovaries are enlarged or swollen by the increased number of small cysts.

3. Blood Tests Blood tests are used to check androgen (male hormone), insulin and blood sugar levels in your blood.

PCOS can put you at risk of other health problems If uncontrolled, PCOS can put you at risk of other health problems. Recent studies found that:

• Women with PCOS may also develop anxiety and depression.

• Women with PCOS are also at risk for endometrial cancer. Irregular menstrual periods and the lack of ovulation cause women to produce the hormone estrogen, but not the hormone progesterone. Progesterone causes the endometrium (lining of the womb) to shed each month as a menstrual period. Without progesterone, the endometrium becomes thick, which can cause heavy or irregular bleeding. Over time, this can lead to endometrial hyperplasia, when the lining grows too much, and cancer.

• More than 50 percent of women with PCOS will have diabetes or pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) before the age of 40.

• The risk of heart attack is 4 to 7 times higher in women with PCOS than women of the same age without PCOS.

• Women with PCOS are at greater risk of having high blood pressure.

• Women with PCOS have high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

• Women with PCOS can develop sleep apnea. This is when breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep.

Pregnancy concerns for PCOS sufferers Women with PCOS appear to have higher rates of:

• Miscarriage

• Gestational diabetes

• Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (preeclampsia)

• Premature delivery Babies born to women with PCOS have a higher risk of spending time in a neonatal intensive care unit or of dying before, during, or shortly after birth. Most of the time, these problems occur in multiple-birth babies (twins, triplets and so forth).

How is PCOS treated? Because there is no cure for PCOS, it needs to be managed to prevent problems. Depending on the severity and the circumstances doctors my prescribe birth control pills, diabetes medications, fertility medications, ovarian surgery and anti-androgen medications.

Using diet, exercise and lifestyle factors to control PCOS. A large percentage of women with PCOS are overweight or obese, which can cause health problems. In this case fat loss is a powerful tool for managing PCOS to the point that it’s proven that as much as a 10 percent loss in body fat can restore a normal period and make your cycle more regular. By using diet, exercise and the lifestyle factors taught in this book you will also lower blood glucose (sugar) levels, improve the body's use of insulin and normalise hormone levels in your body.

Get your symptoms under control as early as possible to help reduce your chances of having complications like diabetes and heart disease