Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is due to a hormonal imbalance in the body. Recently, this disorder has become prevalent among women at a very alarming rate. PCOS usually occurs due to an imbalance in various hormones like insulin, which controls the sugar level in the body, and androgens, which are the sex hormones of the body. Due to these hormonal imbalances, the ovaries don’t make all of the necessary hormones needed for an egg to fully mature.
In a healthy ovary, follicles, or cysts, start to grow and fill with fluid where the egg can grow and mature. Once the egg is mature, the follicle breaks and the egg travels through the fallopian tube to the woman’s uterus for potential fertilization. This is the process known as ovulation.
In women with PCOS, the cysts process starts, but ovulation does not occur and the cysts remain. When ovulation does not occur, the hormone progesterone is not made. This causes the woman to either miss or have an irregular menstrual cycle.
While this health issue has been growing among females, very few of them are unable to diagnose it or identify it in time. While Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome has many causes behind it, the main reason is claimed to be the changing lifestyle of women. PCOS is a health issue, which identified in time, can be completely cured. However, if overlooked for a long time, can cause serious issues like heart diseases and diabetes.
After reading this article, please take the time to make other women aware of PCOS. The quicker it can be identified and treated, the more successfully it can be cured. The symptoms of PCOS can sometimes overlap with the symptoms of a thyroid problem. Therefor, it’s best to consult with a doctor. They can run a series of tests to confirm or deny the existence of PCOS and then provide a plan for treatment.
Symptoms of PCOS
As we discussed earlier, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalances will usually manifest external symptoms on the body. Some of these symptoms are:
Acne
Acne can be one of the most visible and disheartening symptoms caused by PCOS. The change in hormone levels will cause acne eruptions on the face, back and chest. As discussed earlier, changes in one hormone can cause changes in other hormones as well. This change consequently leads to increased oil production by the sebaceous glands of the body. The excess oil secretion leads to blocked pores, which can lead to bacterial infections, which we know as acne. All to often, we assume acne is just a normal part of our changing body. Sometimes though, when acne manifest with other symptoms, it may signal something more severe. Following up with a dermatologist is a prudent choice to make sure your condition is normal and treatable.
Weight Gain
If you notice that you are gaining weight faster than normal and have no logical reason for it, you should consult a doctor. One of the side effects of PCOS is weight gain. This is usually due to a change in the levels of the hormone insulin in the body. With PCOS, the body becomes resistant to insulin. It’s insulin that helps the body digest sugar and neutralizes blood glucose. Therefor, the sugar keeps flowing in the blood but it does not reach to other parts of the body. This causes the body to start gaining weight. Weight gain can cause a multitude of other health related issues in the long term.
Unwanted Hair Growth
Anyone suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome will suddenly notice a lot of undesired hair growth on the face, back, chest and stomach. This happens due to an increase in male hormones. You will suddenly notice hair growth on the upper lip and chin. This unwanted hair would be dark and coarse. Also, hair tends to thin out on the scalp.
Irregular Menstrual Cycle
Those who have PCOS will often have irregular menstrual cycle. This is due to the imbalance in hormones. Those with PCOS often have less than 9 menstrual cycles in a year with varying degrees of bleeding.
Tendency to Get Depressed
With the upheaval in hormones, there are a lot of mood swings. Worrying about symptoms such as, weight gain and irregular menstrual cycle, can make a person emotional and depressed. These changes in hormone level will surely have an effect on a person’s mood. Therefor, it is very common to notice that people with PCOS get depression.
Fertility issues
One of the adverse symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is fertility issues. Those who suffer from PCOS may have a hard time conceiving. This happens because the ova are not being able to develop fully. Multiple cysts prematurely break and make it extremely difficult to conceive.
Even with all the above mentioned symptoms for PCOS, it should be noted that there can be other symptoms, like pelvic pain, that may be experience by some women. It is not necessary to have all the symptoms to be diagnosed with PCOS. You may only show 2 or 3. Never ignore a symptom, no matter how small. Be sure to talk to a medical specialist to ensure proper treatment.
Side effects of PCOS
Heart Disease
If left untreated, PCOS can also affect the functioning of the heart. Since one of the side effects of PCOS is weight gain, the excess weight puts unneeded stress and pressure on the heart. An increase in blood pressure often occurs. As a result, a lot of women have seen and increase in heart diseases as a long-term side effect of this syndrome.
Diabetes
PCOS can make the body resistant to insulin. If this occurs, the body reacts by increasing blood sugar levels and over an extended period of time, this can increase your change of getting diabetes.
Who Suffers from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome usually manifests itself in females who have started their menstrual cycle. PCOS has been seen in girls as young as 11, all the way up to women in their late 40’s and 50’s. It is estimated that 1 in 20 women of childbearing age have PCOS. In the United States alone, there may be as many as 5 million women affected.
Why does it happen?
As discussed before, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is observed in females with a hormonal imbalance. There is no simple reason as to why this imbalance happens. Although not proven, it is believed that PCOS can be related to genetics. It is believed that a girl has higher chances of having PCOS if her mother’s side had it or father’s side had it. Some researchers also say that sisters have double the chance of having this syndrome. That is, if there are two or more sisters they have a higher chance of having PCOS verses a single child.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is considered to be spreading among girls and women because of changing life styles. It is believed that the stressful lifestyle we lead now-a-days plays a major role in the onset of PCOS. Any kind of stress on the body will affect the hormonal balance of the body. If the stress is too much, and is continuous, it is sure to have an impact.
Stress can be anything: a busy life style, long working hours, problems at school/home, etc. A lot of women these days are working or raising a family and often don’t find time to exercise. Younger girls too, do not seem to exercise as much as they should. They are distracted by television, video games, the Internet, etc. The busy lifestyles of both young and old are a key factor into getting PCOS. They do not realize how harmful this lifestyle is on their bodies until it’s too late.
Another damaging factor that plays a major role in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is eating habits. The eating habits of people are changing fast. Instead of eating healthy home-prepared foods, people with busy lifestyles often find themselves eating fast-food or junk food. There is a reason it is called junk food. With little-to-no health benefits, these types of food can cause more harm than good. Junk food is usually high in oils and fat which is harmful to the body. When consuming junk food on a daily basis, it slowly affects the hormones in your body.
How to Cure PCOS
The cure for PCOS can be divided into two parts. The first part, are things that you can do to help cure PCOS, and the second part describes the help you should receive from your medical professional. As with any medical condition, please be observant of any symptoms your body may be showing and consult a doctor.
What You Can Do to Help with PCOS
This information is for those with and without PCOS. Even if you’re perfectly healthy, do everything you can to try and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Please remember to consult with your doctor before changing your physical activity or dieting habits.
Exercise
In order to maintain a fit and healthy body, you should try to exercise for at least 30 minutes per day. One of the symptoms of PCOS is weight gain and shedding those pounds can sometimes be more difficult than those without PCOS. Try to stay focused and keep exercising. Check with your doctor to find your Body Mass Index. Your height determines a specific weight range. You and your doctor should determine what weight best fits your body type. Many cases of PCOS have been cured by exercising regularly. Walking and jogging are one of the best exercises to start with.
Eating Habits
Good eating habits are essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle whether you have PCOS or not. Try to eat healthy foods like fruits, nuts and less fatty foods. Cut down on the junk food like candy, snacks and sugary sodas. Homemade food is usually best since you control the contents. Fast foods and restaurant food contains a lot of salt and highly saturated fat foods. It does require more effort to prepare a homemade meal, but the end results are worth the effort.
If you already have PCOS, you must be very strict and follow a balanced diet. Please consult a dietician to prepare a nutritious weekly meal plan. Remember dieting does not mean starving, dieting means having the right food and the right quantity. Don’t deprive your body of it nutrients, but at the same time don’t eat too much.
Drink lots of water. This will help flush out the toxins in your body and keep you hydrated, especially when exercising. Develop eating times so your body knows when it’s getting its nutrients. Consult your dietician to determine the number of meals, and the quantity, you should have per day. Some people find that eating smaller portions every few hours, works better than 3 big meals a day.
Stop Smoking and Drinking
Do you smoke? STOP! I know people who smoke may find that irritating to hear, but there are absolutely no benefits to smoking and plenty of problems. For most, stopping smoking is not easy. Talk to a doctor to find the best way to wean off.
For those who drink alcohol, even casually, it becomes tough for the insulin in your body to breakdown sugar molecules. Therefor, limit your alcohol intake as much as possible. It will help you lose weight in the long run.
Have a Routine
You must have a daily routine. Staying up at night and pushing yourself the entire next day will only harm your body. Please ensure you sleep on time, wake up on time, exercise your body, and eat on time. A regular routine like that will put your body in a healthy rhythm.
What Medical Treatment You Should Seek
Checkup with Doctor
If you think you have the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, you should consult a doctor. Specifically, you should consult your gynecologist. The doctor will run some tests and ask you some personal questions about your menstrual cycle, smoking, drinking, eating habits and lifestyle. Based on their observations and the test results, they will determine if you have PCOS.
The doctor may also have you take an ultrasound. The ultrasound is mainly done to check for cysts in the body. If there are cysts seen in your ultrasound, the doctor will confirm that you have PCOS.
Prescribed Medicine
The medicine that is mostly prescribed by the medical specialist is metformin. Metformin helps the body interact with insulin again and also ensures that you have a regular menstrual cycle. Sometimes they may prescribe birth control pills. Birth control pills have the effect of reducing menstrual cycle problems. If you are trying to have a baby, the doctor will put you on medicines that will help you conceive.
You must take your medicines regularly and at proper time cycles. Avoid drinking if you are on medicines. The doctor will also advise you to exercise, lose weight and eat healthy. You must follow up with your doctor regularly so they can keep track of your blood pressure and sugar levels.
