These days, women are increasingly suffering from the snags of PCOS. One out of ten women of reproductive age are known to suffer from PCOS globally. This can be attributed due to the new lifestyle changes over the recent years and increased levels of stress due to the fast paced routines that we have to lead on a day to day basis.
So what is PCOS?
In simple words, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. This causes the ovaries to make more androgens than normal. Androgens are male hormones that are present in females as well. However, having a higher levels of this hormone affects the development and release of eggs from the ovary during ovulation. This causes the mature eggs to become cysts in the ovary since they are not able to be released.
What are the most common symptoms of PCOS?
Changes in menstrual cycle
This can include irregular periods, missed periods or just an abnormal menstrual flow. The main reason for this is high levels of testosterone.
Excessive hair growth
This is also called hirsutism. PCOS normally leads to extreme facial hair growth but it may also means hair in other body parts such as the chest, back and other body parts. This is due to extreme
Oily skin and acne
Acne or excess oil in the skin is another adverse effect of PCOS. A woman who does not have PCOS also has some level of testosterone but it is way more for a woman who has PCOS which is why her skin goes through hormonal changes.
Abdominal obesity
Weight gain with no obvious explanation, particularly fat around the stomach and abdomen. This is likely to have a negative effect on the health. With PCOS, you also have a chance of experiencing insulin resistance. This can increase the risk of obesity and diabetes.
Uneven/dark skin
PCOS causes an increase in melanin production which may result in a dark blackish pigmentation around the neck, face area, underarms. This is due to higher levels of insulin in the blood.
Inability to conceive
PCOS prevents ovulation from taking place. Due to the lack of the female hormone, the follicles that release eggs are unable to do so and thus they remain in the ovary. This makes PCOS the leading cause of infertility in women. This doesn’t mean pregnancy is impossible, however, extra care is needed.
How can you treat PCOS?
Although the real cause of PCOS remains unknown, research shows us that imbalances in hormone levels, body fat percentage, and metabolism could the culprit. Most of the times, the root causes of these imbalances are stress and diet, which often go hand in hand because high levels of stress often leads to poor choices of diet and other lifestyle adoptions.
If you are told that you have PCOS or want to know more, the best thing you can do is educate yourself and talk to a doctor who will take the time to explain the syndrome and work with you to manage and treat PCOS.
