Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
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PCOS is a hormonal disorder which causes enlarged ovaries and cysts on the outside
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It usually impacts women during their childbearing years
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PCOS results in a greater than expected amount of male hormones (androgen)
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It is common for women with PCOS to experience skipped or irregular periods
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PCOS can also cause long term effects through other diseases
IRREGULAR PERIODS
PCOS affects ovulation, which may cause a woman to miss her period. Women with PCOS may also experience longer, heavier periods and increased pain during menstruation.
EXCESS BODY AND FACIAL HAIR
(AKA HIRSUTISM)
Women with PCOS may experience increased hair growth on their face, arms, back, feet and abdomen.
THINNING HAIR
PCOS can lead to male pattern baldness or the thinning of hair on the scalp. This symptom is more common in middle aged women.
WEIGHT GAIN OR LOSS
About half of women with PCOS have trouble managing their weight. While weight gain is common in women with PCOS, other women experience unexplained weight loss.
OVARIAN CYSTS
Ovarian cysts are growths in the ovaries that are noncancerous. Cysts may go away on their own, but in some cases may need to be removed surgically.
ACNE
An imbalance of hormones in the body can lead to increased acne outbreaks, especially on the chin, cheeks and upper neck.
PROBLEMS CONEIVING
Women with PCOS may have difficulty getting pregnant.
PLEASE NOTE:
The signs and symptoms can be different per the individual
And, please consult your physician if you are experiencing any of these symptoms for more information.
Genetics
Although there is little to no research on how PCOS is passed from one generation to the next, women with a family history of PCOS and/or Type 2 Diabetes are at a higher risk of being affected by PCOS.
Insulin Resistance
Women with PCOS often have insulation resistance, meaning they're unable to efficiently use insulin and are put at a higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
Prenatal Exposure to Male Sex Hormones
Exposure to male sex hormones (androgen and testosterone) puts both unborn children and their mothers at risk. In general, women who are exposed to significant amounts of male sex hormones are at risk of developing "male characteristics," such as increased face/body hair, severe acne, and even male-pattern baldness. Unborn children who are exposed to male hormones are at risk of behavior issues throughout their childhood.
Low Grade Inflammation
Low grade inflammation is the white cell's inability to produce substances to fight infections.This causes polycystic ovaries to produce androgen.
Environmental Factors & Stress
Diet, exercise, and pollution are all environmental factors that can trigger the development of PCOS.
Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best ways to prevent/limit the effects of PCOS - Please further consult with your provider on how to incorporate prevention into your lifestyle.
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Adjusting refined carb intake/ incorporating more complex carbs will help keep you full longer. Complex carbs include vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains. If you are worried about food waste, frozen vegetables are great to incorporate into your diet. And they last longer! Reminder that the key to maintaining a healthy weight is moderation! You don't need to be on a restricted diet to maintain a healthy weight.
Getting active can be as simple as mowing the lawn and doing chores around the house! Movement is key to maintaining a healthy weight. Any form of movement that you enjoy is all that you need. Ways to get active include going on a walk, gardening, yoga, swimming, jump roping, and biking. Do what you enjoy!
United States
Globally
Note: These are the cases that are diagnosed and recorded. Many women go undiagnosed.
PCOS affects about 1 in 10 women around the world. It is most identifiable when a woman begins or is in her reproductive years (or when she starts menstruation). Because of the health risks and how PCOS affects the female body, 75% of women with PCOS experience infertility.
PCOS is the most common Endocrine disorder for women.
Women who show some symptoms of PCOS.
​PCOS affects 5%-10% of women in the developed world (6%-12% of women in US), and is prevalent in reproductive years.
There are often times that individuals with PCOS are diagnosed incorrectly or may not even be diagnosed. In this section, we look at the most common misconceptions for these individuals.
PCOS'S
Misleading Name
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This name is misleading, because it suggests that PCOS must only impact the ovaries. However, the ovaries are not the only indicators of PCOS.
PCOS'S
"Size Profiling"
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weight may see reduced quality care. Overweight patients are often times over-diagnosed. And, normal-weight patients
are under-diagnosed.
Individuals with excess
PCOS'S
Social Stigma
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social stigma surrounding female infertility. This impacts a female's self-worth and self-esteem, and makes
them less likely to actively seek treatment for PCOS.
There is also a lot of
So how can we prevent stigma around PCOS?
Great question, we will discuss some ways, like spreading reliable information on the symptoms and treatment for PCOS, below.
Impact of Women's Magazines
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Women's magazines having content on PCOS may change the attitude and misconceptions of women who maybe hadn’t done research on it before.
NIH
Involvement
allow for the genetic and epigenetic causes of PCOS to be researched further which will improve the accuracy of
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Involving the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, to create more studies may
diagnosing, preventing, and identifying symptoms.
Social Media Platforms
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information, data, and awareness on PCOS to all audiences ESPECIALLY the younger female audiences. This
Creating social media platforms can spread
allows the younger audience to recognize symptoms early
on and refer their symptoms to their doctors.
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Currently, there is no cure for PCOS
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However, there are treatments for PCOS that focus on removing or reducing symptoms or on reversing infertility
PCOS can contribute to insulin resistance, increasing the risk for Type 2 diabetes. With higher insulin resistance levels, the body doesn’t respond to insulin release normally and results in higher levels of glucose in the blood. Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can include increased thirst/hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, weight gain, and blurry vision. PCOS side effects can include weight gain. Weight gain also is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes because of it possibly coinciding with high blood glucose levels. A sedentary lifestyle is an aggravating factor, meaning that pursuing more daily activity and healthy eating habits can lower this risk for diabetes.
Approximately 33% of American women will die of heart disease, making it the leading cause of death in this country, even higher than cancer. Having PCOS increases a woman’s chances of getting heart-related complications. Due to the higher levels of insulin that have been associated with PCOS and are known to increase one’s risk for elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high cholesterol, blood pressure, and atherosclerosis (build-up of hard, fatty plaques in the arteries). Women with PCOS may also have higher than average insulin levels due to insulin resistance. This excess insulin is known to increase risk factors for cardiovascular health, increasing your risk for a heart attack and stroke.
Risk for Liver Disease DOUBLES in Women with PCOS. Symptoms of PCOS (obesity, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance) are some of the major contributing factors in developing Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease where too much fat begins to store in the liver, from non-alcohol-related causes. The liver has some fat in it typically, but inflammation is triggered when there is too much. As the body tries to repair itself, it can scar the liver with fibrosis, eventually damaging the liver if not treated. Risk factors for developing NAFLD are obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes.