Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately 5% of all women. It occurs amongst all races and nationalities, is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, and is a leading cause of infertility. The principal features are obesity, anovulation (resulting in irregular menstruation), and excessive amounts or effects of androgenic (masculinizing) hormones. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly among women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity are all strongly correlated with PCOS.
Common symptoms of PCOS include:
Oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea — irregular, few, or absent menstrual periods.
Infertility, generally resulting from chronic anovulation (lack of ovulation).
Hirsutism — excessive and increased body hair, typically in a male pattern affecting face, chest and legs.
Hair loss appearing as thinning hair on the top of the head
Acne, oily skin, seborrhea.
Obesity: one in two women with PCOS are obese.
Depression.
Deepening of voice
Mild symptoms of hyperandrogenism, such as acne or hyperseborrhea, are frequent in adolescent girls and are often associated with irregular menstrual cycles. In most instances, these symptoms are transient and only reflect the immaturity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis during the first years following menarche.
PCOS can present in any age during the reproductive years. Due to its often vague presentation it can take years to reach a diagnosis.
Women with PCOS are at risk for the following:
Endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining) are possible, due to overaccumulation of uterine lining, and also lack of progesterone resulting in prolonged stimulation of uterine cells by estrogen. It is however unclear if this risk is directly due to the syndrome or from the associated obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperandrogenism.
Insulin resistance/Type II diabetes
High blood pressure
Dyslipidemia (disorders of lipid metabolism — cholesterol and triglycerides)
Cardiovascular disease
Strokes
Weight gain
Miscarriage
acanthosis nigricans (patches of darkened skin under the arms, in the groin area, on the back of the neck)
Autoimmune thyroiditis
Endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining) are possible, due to overaccumulation of uterine lining, and also lack of progesterone resulting in prolonged stimulation of uterine cells by estrogen. It is however unclear if this risk is directly due to the syndrome or from the associated obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperandrogenism.
Insulin resistance/Type II diabetes
High blood pressure
Dyslipidemia (disorders of lipid metabolism — cholesterol and triglycerides)
Cardiovascular disease
Strokes
Weight gain
Miscarriage
acanthosis nigricans (patches of darkened skin under the arms, in the groin area, on the back of the neck)
Autoimmune thyroiditis
I got the information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hi Jessica!
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 34. I am glad I found your blog(: The information you've provided is sooo valuable. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. I know that it was a while ago that you commented but in all honesty I forgot all about this blog. I hope you will continue to check in as I have a lot of things to share.
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