Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects how a woman's ovaries function.
You may be diagnosed with PCOS if you have at least two of these above-mentioned features.
Polycystic ovaries comprise several benign follicles that are up to 8 mm in size. The follicles are underdeveloped sacs in which eggs grow. In PCOS, these sacs are not able to release an egg. The actual number of women having PCOS is unknown, but since it’s very common, statistics say that 1 in every 10 women has it. Surprisingly, more than half of these women do not experience any symptoms.
If you have any signs or symptoms of PCOS, they will become apparent during your late teens or early 20s.
They can include:
PCOS is associated with an increased risk of developing health problems in later life, like type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol levels.
The actual cause of PCOS is not discovered, but it often runs in genes. It is related to unusual hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin. What is insulin? It is a hormone that is responsible for controlling sugar levels in the body.
Many women with PCOS are immune to the action of insulin in their bodies and produce higher levels of insulin to counter this. This causes the increased production and activity of hormones like testosterone. Being obese also accelerates the amount of insulin produced.
There's no definite cure for PCOS, but the symptoms can be dealt with. Book an appointment with a doctor if you think you may have the condition.
If you have PCOS and you are overweight, following a healthy diet and losing weight can make some symptoms better.
You may find medicines to treat symptoms like excessive hair growth, irregular periods and fertility problems.
If fertility medicines do not work for you, a simple surgical procedure called Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling (LOD) can be done.
LOD involves using heat or a laser to destroy the tissue in the ovaries that are producing androgens, like testosterone.
With proper treatment, most women with PCOS can conceive.
PCOS is not categorised into stages. It is only classified into 4 types - insulin-resistant, inflammatory, hidden-cause and pill-induced PCOS.
Common symptoms include irregular periods, excess hair growth, acne, scalp hair loss, weight gain, obesity, infertility and sleep apnea. Long-term complications include type 2 diabetes, increased cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular diseases and endometrial cancer risk.
Long-term complications of untreated PCOS include type 2 diabetes, increased cholesterol, obesity, metabolic syndrome, anxiety, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and predisposition to certain cancers like endometrial cancer. Infertility issues and worsening of symptoms like hirsutism and acne occur.
Associated health problems include gradual weight gain, obesity, unwanted hair growth, acne, scalp hair loss, infertility, sleep apnea, various metabolic syndromes (high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, increased cholesterol and blood glucose levels), type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression and increased endometrial cancer risk.
