Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome or PCOS is a common hormonal disorder whose exact reason is unknown. Women suffering from PCOS may experience irregular or prolonged menses and a rise in male hormones called androgen. In such situations, women’s ovaries cease to release the egg as per usual and form follicles, a collection of fluid sacks.
The true reason for why PCOS happens is still unclear, but many health experts debate its reason in regard to family history.
It is important to diagnose and treat PCOS properly as it can further cause type 2 diabetes and severe heart diseases. Weight loss has always helped to reduce its symptoms.
Common Symptoms of PCOS
Common signs and symptoms of PCOS can develop once you hit puberty, or they can transpire afterward. Normally, they occur due to substantial weight gain. Moreover, these signs vary from person to person. However, a diagnosis for PCOS is made on the basis of the following symptoms:
1- Excess Androgen
High levels of androgen are a bad sign as it is a male hormone. Females should not have elevated levels. It can cause many physical changes such as excess facial and body hair, acute acne, and the appearance of male-patterned baldness. All these changes can indicate PCOS in women.
2- Irregular Menstruation Cycles
Infrequent, prolonged, or absence of a menstruation cycle is the biggest sign of PCOS. Experiencing less than 9 cycles a year and having a cycle of 35 days or more is not considered normal, and your top gynecologist doctor will diagnose you with PCOS if you experience it. Sometimes, a prolonged period is also a sign of PCOS. Some women only get spotting a couple of days every month, while some get abnormally heavy periods. All these infrequencies indicate polycystic ovaries syndrome.
3- Polycystic Ovaries
PCOS can cause your ovaries to get enlarged and surround your eggs with follicles. It can cause your ovaries to malfunction and operate abnormally. These follicles make your ovaries polycystic.
Possible Causes of Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome
Although the exact cause of PCOS is not known yet, the following factors play a great role in developing it:
1- Excess in Insulin Level
Your pancreases generate insulin to allow your body cells to utilize sugar as your body’s primary energy supply. Your sugar level can rise if the cells become resistant to insulin. It can cause your body to produce excessive amounts of insulin. It can also cause a hike in androgen production that cause multiple issues in ovulation.
2- Inflammation
Women with PCOS have been diagnosed with a type of low-grade inflammation that encourages polycystic ovaries, resulting in excess androgen production. It can also lead to type 2 diabetes and heart problems. The term low-grade inflammation is used in medicine to describe the production of a substance that fights infection.
3- Heredity or Family History
Researchers have found that family history has a lot to do with PCOS. If it runs in your family, chances are you will get it too at one or more points in your life.
4- Excess in Androgen Level
Ovaries that produce excessive levels of androgen can also be a cause of PCOS. it can also result in acne and hirsutism.
Treating Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome
PCOS is a recurring disorder and if not taken care of it can worsen. The following things can help to treat polycystic ovaries syndrome:
1- Lifestyle Change
Changing your unhealthy lifestyle habits and choosing a low-calorie diet is the best way to deal with PCOS. Only a consistently healthy lifestyle can stop the recurring symptoms of polycystic ovaries. Moreover, losing weight can help your medication to work better and affect your body the right way.
2- Medication
To regulate your monthly cycle, your doctor may give you a combination of birth control pills and progestin therapy. It will ensure a normal cycle each month and regulate your hormones. These drugs help your ovaries to perform in normal ways and regulate the internal cell’s operations.
3- Workout Daily
Being active is the key to staying healthy and regulating all abnormal bodily functions. Working out daily can help to shed extra fat and maintain your ideal body weight. It can cancel extra pressure on your organs and lead to a healthy functioning body.
Complications of PCOS
Following are the common complications of polycystic ovaries syndrome:
- Infertility
- Sleep Apnea
- Eating Disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Abnormal bleeding
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Heart diseases
- Uterus Cancer
- Higher chances of miscarriage
It is always better to consult professionals for guidance. Book your appointment with online gynecologist doctor through Marham for more information.
