PCOS ( Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome )

What is PCOS?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is an endocrine (hormonal) disorder that affects between 5-10% of women of childbearing age. One of the major characteristics of PCOS is multiple cysts on the ovaries.




SYMPTOMS

• Infertility: Difficulty in conceiving or becoming pregnant. Usually a result of irregular periods, or not ovulating each month.

• Anovulation or oligovulation: Not ovulating, or releasing a mature egg from the ovary each month. Without ovulation, periods may be irregular or absent.

• Infrequent or absent periods

• Ovarian Cysts:  An ovarian cyst is a fluid filled pocket located on the ovary.

• Hirsutism: Increased hair growth in strange places (chest, face, back, lower abdomen, fingers, toes).

• Acanthosis nigricans: Patches of dark, thickened, velvety skin behind the neck, on the thighs, or on the vulva. This is usually a sign of insulin resistance.

• Insulin resistance: The body does not respond as well to insulin, the primary hormone which helps the body use and deal with glucose or sugar. This causes elevated blood glucose levels and is a major risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes. Insulin resistance is frequently associated with PCOS; some studies suggest that as many as 70% of women with PCOS are affected by this issue. This occurs when the body has consistently high levels of sugar. The pancreas needs to secrete greater and greater amounts of insulin in order to keep blood sugar regulated. Eventually, the cells no longer respond to insulin and glucose begins to build up in the blood, leading to diabetes.

• Type 2 diabetes: Prolonged exposure to high levels of glucose and the reduced sensitivity of body cells to insulin eventually make the body unable to deal with sugar. When glucose levels are persistently high, complications develop. These include problems with eye sight, kidney disease, and neuropathy, which is a loss of feeling and circulation in the body limbs.

• Skin tags: Excess flaps of skin, usually found in the armpit or groin.

• PCOS and Acne - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) occurs when there is a hormonal imbalance, namely an increase in androgen (testosterone) production. High levels of androgens are known to increase the amount of oil produced by sebaceous glands, which contributes to acne.

• Obesity: The medical definition of obesity is someone who has excessive fat stores throughout the body, increasing their risk for medical complications (such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure). Body mass index (BMI) is one way that physicians determine a diagnosis of obesity. A person with a BMI of 25 to 30 is considered overweight, while a BMI over 30 is considered obesEvery woman’s metabolism is unique. Our bodies process fats, calories and sugar differently. This is true of women with PCOS as well. Many women with PCOS eat a healthy diet and exercise religiously, but still have a problem with weight. Obviously, this is not a simple issue of caloric intake and lack of adequate activity. There is something about the way that their bodies process the food and calories that they consume which makes it difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight. Some researchers have theorized that this phenomenon is a result of insulin resistance, which is very common in women with PCOS.

• High cholesterol: Cholesterol is a type of fat that is both made by the body, and ingested through our diet. There are a number of types of cholesterol that is measured through routine screening. High density lipoprotein, or HDL, is considered to be the “good” cholesterol. In sufficient amounts, it keeps bad cholesterol from building up in the blood vessels. Low density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as the bad cholesterol. It is produced by the liver and carried in the blood throughout the body. In high quantities, it can accumulate on the wall of the blood vessels and create blockages.

• High Blood Pressure: As the blood is pumped from the heart, it travels through the body through a network of arteries. A force is created by the heart that is transferred to the arteries. This force, or pressure, is necessary to keep blood flowing throughout the body and is reflective of your cardiovascular health. Elevated blood pressure is known as hypertension. Blood pressure should be lower then 120/80 (read as 120 over 80). Prehypertension is now defined as 120-139/80-89. This is not yet considered to be high blood pressure, but doctors will want to watch it carefully to make sure it doesn’t get higher. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is considered to be 140/90. Typically, high blood pressure is diagnosed when there are two different high readings at least 2 months apart.

• Sleep apnea or snoring: Sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing once or multiple times during sleep. Risk factors include certain physical characteristics (such as large neck), smoking, alcohol use, obesity and diabetes, the last two which may account for the connection to PCOS. Sleep apnea often leads to snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and irritability.

• Hair loss: Hair loss similar to male pattern baldness.

For more information visit: www.womenshealth.gov, www.pcosfoundation.org, www.pcoschallenge.org, www.pcosupport.org