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Monthly Spotlight: PCOS

PCOS Awareness Month

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a set of symptoms caused by a problem with a woman’s hormones. It affects the ovaries. These are the small organs that store a woman’s eggs. But it can also affect the rest of the body. PCOS is a very common condition in women of childbearing age. In some cases, it can lead to serious health issues if not treated.

Ovulation happens when a mature egg is released from an ovary. This happens so it can be fertilized by a male sperm. If the egg is not fertilized, it is sent out of the body during your period.

In some cases, a woman doesn’t make enough of the hormones needed to ovulate. When ovulation doesn’t happen, the ovaries can develop many small fluid-filled sacs (cysts). These cysts make hormones called androgens. Androgens are a type of hormone normally found in abundance in men, but women normally have them in smaller amounts. Women with PCOS often have high levels of androgens. This can cause more problems with a woman’s menstrual cycle. And it can cause many of the symptoms of PCOS.

Treatment for PCOS is often done with medicine. This can’t cure PCOS, but it helps reduce symptoms and prevent some health problems. -Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Symptoms:

  • Missed periods, irregular periods, or very light periods

  • Ovaries that are large or have many cysts

  • Extra body hair, including the chest, stomach, and back (hirsutism)

  • Weight gain, especially around the belly

    • Between 40% and 80% of people with PCOS are obese and have trouble maintaining a weight that’s healthy for them.

  • Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair

  • Infertility 

  • Small pieces of extra skin on the neck or armpits (skin tags)

  • Dark or thick skin patches on the back of the neck, in the armpits, and under the breasts

  • PCOS can cause oily skin and/or acne, especially on your back, chest, and face.

    • This acne may continue past your teenage years and may be difficult to treat.

Treatments:

  • Changing diet and activity
  • Medicines
    • Birth control- hormonal
    • Insulin-sensitizing medicine
    • Androgens blockers

Risks for Later in Life:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • High blood pressure & High cholesterol
    • Can lead to heart disease or strokes
  • Sleep apnoea or other sleep disorders
  • Developing cancer of the womb lining (endometrial cancer)
    • Although it's a very small chance
  • Endometrial hyperplasia

Information from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, and the NHS.

  • PCOS is a significant public health problem and is one of the most common hormonal disturbances affecting women of reproductive age.
    • The condition affects an estimated 8–13% of women of reproductive age, and up to 70% of cases are undiagnosed.
  • Despite being one of the most common endocrine disorders, PCOS receives less than .1% of funding from the National Institutes of Health.
  • By age 40, 40% of women with PCOS will develop pre-diabetes or diabetes.
  • Eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are common among women with PCOS.
  • Women with PCOS have more testosterone and can build muscle more easily than women without the syndrome.
  • Eating protein and/or fat-containing foods every 3 to 5 hours throughout the day may help to stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent cravings in PCOS.
  • Studies show that as many as 70 percent of women with PCOS have fertility problems.
    • Women with PCOS have a higher incidence of gestational diabetes, miscarriages, preterm deliveries, and stillbirths.
  • The syndrome is usually detected in women between ages 20 and 30
    • But the earliest signs can be evident in younger girls including those who have not yet started menstruation.

 Information is gathered from the Yale School of Medicine, Nutrition Care of Rochester, and the World Health Organization.