What is PCOS ?

What Is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a common health problem caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. The hormonal imbalance creates problems in the ovaries. The ovaries make the egg that is released each month as part of a healthy menstrual cycle. With PCOS, the egg may not develop as it should or it may not be released during ovulation as it should be.

It can also:• Stop your periods or make them hard to predict• Cause acne and unwanted body and facial hair• Raise your risk of other health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure

You can get treatments for the symptoms. And you could be able to get pregnant, although you may need to take medicines to improve your fertility.❖ Some women with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries. That’s why it’s called “polycystic.” But the name is misleading because many women with PCOS don’t have cysts.

Hormones and PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome

When you have PCOS , your reproductive hormones are out of balance. This can lead to problems with your ovaries, such as not having your period on time or not getting it.

Your body makes hormones to make different things happen. Some affect your menstrual cycle and are tied to your ability to have a baby. The hormones that play a role in PCOS include:• Androgens. They’re often called male hormones, but women have them, too. Women with PCOS tend to have higher levels.• Insulin . This hormone manages your blood sugar. If you have PCOS , your body might not react to insulin the way it should.• Progesterone . With PCOS , your body may not have enough of this hormone. You might miss your periods for a long time or have trouble predicting when they’ll come.

Symptoms of PCOS

Signs and symptoms of PCOS often develop around the time of the first menstrual period during puberty. Sometimes PCOS develops later, for example, in response to substantial weight gain.

Signs and symptoms of PCOS vary. A diagnosis of PCOS is made when you experience at least two of these signs:• Irregular periods. Infrequent, irregular or prolonged menstrual cycles are the most common sign of PCOS . For example, you might have fewer than nine periods a year, more than 35 days between periods and abnormally heavy periods.• Excess androgen. Elevated levels of male hormone may result in physical signs, such as excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), and occasionally severe acne and male-pattern baldness.• Polycystic ovaries. Your ovaries might be enlarged and contain follicles that surround the eggs. As a result, the ovaries might fail to function regularly.

PCOS signs and symptoms are typically more severe if you’re obese.

Causes of PCOS

Signs and symptoms of PCOS often develop around the time of the first menstrual period during puberty. Sometimes PCOS develops later, for example, in response to substantial weight gain.

Complications

Complications of PCOS can include:• Infertility• Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure• Miscarriage or premature birth• Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis — a severe liver inflammation caused by fat accumulation in the liver• Metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that significantly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease• Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes• Sleep apnea• Depression, anxiety and eating disorders• Abnormal uterine bleeding• Cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer)

Obesity is associated with PCOS and can worsen complications of the disorder.

POCS Diagnosis

No single test can diagnose PCOS. Your doctor will start by asking about your symptoms and medical history and by doing a physical exam, and possibly a pelvic exam.

They might give you blood tests to measure your hormone levels, blood sugar, and cholesterol. An ultrasound can check your ovaries for cysts, look for tumors, and measure the lining of your uterus.

PCOS Treatment

Treatment will depend on your symptoms, your age, and whether you want to become pregnant. If you’re overweight, losing a little — even 5% to 10% of your weight — can make you feel better. It also might help the way your medications work and improve your fertility.

Your doctor may tell you to take the diabetes drug metformin (Glucophage) to lower insulin resistance, regulate ovulation, and help with weight loss.

If you aren’t planning to get pregnant, your doctor might prescribe hormonal birth control, like the skin patch or the pill. These medications can help lower your risk of endometrial cancer, get your periods on track, clear up acne, and lessen extra body hair. If you do want to get pregnant, fertility medications can help your ovaries release eggs.

Ask a Pharmacist or your doctor about medications to treat body hair and acne.