Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Explained
What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Ovary is the organ responsible for producing and releasing eggs, can lead to a hormonal imbalance known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
The ovaries secrete abnormally large amounts of androgens (male hormone) if the person have PCOS. The reproductive hormones become unbalanced as a result.
Consequently, irregular menstrual cycles, missed periods, and uncertain ovulation are common in a person with PCOS.
Approximately 10% of women who are of a reproductive age are affected. It’s among the most frequent reasons why people become infertile.
In ultrasound, the ovaries may show small follicular cysts because of anovulation, or the absence of ovulation. These are fluid-filled sacs containing immature eggs.
The term “polycystic,” however, does not necessarily refer to the presence of ovarian cysts.
Ovarian cysts are neither unpleasant nor harmful.
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Why people confuse with PCOS ?
Some PCOS patients have ovarian cysts, which are tiny fluid-filled sacs. It’s called “polycystic” for that reason. However, many patients with PCOS do not have cysts, thus the name is a little confusing.
Actually, a lot of PCOS people have no symptoms at all. This is one of the reasons that up to most of the people with PCOS are unaware that they have it.
PCOS often begins soon after puberty, but many women remain unaware of it until they face difficulties in conceiving and undergo medical evaluation.
Now several therapies are available that can help the patient to get pregnant or improve the health of the patients.
What are the symptoms of PCOS?
People thinks that PCOS is a disease but this is not a disease, it is collection of symptoms. It differs from person to person.
Acne and oily skin
Skin is oily in case of PCOS it is because of excess amount of androgen. Acne is common on face, chest and back.
Dark skin and skin tags
Skin tags are usually forms on areas like neck or armpits.
They are small, soft, harmless growths of extra skin.
They are not dangerous, but they can be bothersome. Patches of Skin looks darker in breast, arms or neck than surrounding area.
Why Skin tags and dark color skin in PCOS?
In PCOS, many women have high levels of insulin in their body.
This extra insulin makes the skin cells grow more, which can cause small growths called skin tags, usually on the neck or armpits.
It also increases the skin pigment (melanin), leading to dark and thick patches on areas like the neck, underarms, or groin. This condition is called Acanthosis Nigricans.
Insulin resistance
Most of the PCOS suffering women have elevated insulin levels.
Hormonal imbalance
In PCOS, hormonal imbalance is the main reason, high androgen levels (male hormone) lead to PCOS and other skin abnormalities.
Loss of hair
Your hair may get thinner as a result of PCOS, particularly if you’re middle-aged or older.
Excess body hair and facial hair
Hirsutism, or excessive body and facial hair. However, hair can grow in areas you don’t want it to, such as your face, arms, fingers, toes, chest, and belly.
Pelvic pain and increase in weight
Pain in lower belly (pelvic) is very common during period and sometimes other days. Weight gain, particularly in the abdominal (belly) region, affects about more than 50% of women with PCOS.
Presence of ovarian cysts
Ultrasound used in the detection of uterus health status. If the person has PCOS, ultrasound report shows bigger ovaries and egg sac cysts or follicle.
Mood swings
PCOS increases the risk of mood swings, depression, and anxiety. These emotional changes may result not only from hormonal imbalances but also from the stress of managing PCOS symptoms.
Female infertility
PCOS is one of the leading causes of female infertility. Irregular or infrequent ovulation can make it difficult to conceive.
How many types of PCOS?
The two primary methods for classifying PCOS types are available.
1. Rotterdam phenotyping system,
2. By the underlying cause or trigger.
Rotterdam phenotyping system
The Rotterdam Criteria suggest that a woman can be diagnosed with PCOS if she has any two of the following three characteristics:
1. Absent or irregular ovulation (period irregularities),
2. High levels of androgen (as indicated by a blood test or signs like acne or excessive hair),
3. Presence of polycystic ovaries.
Based on this, the types of PCOS are:
1. Type A (Classic PCOS): Irregular ovulation + high androgens + polycystic ovaries
2. Type B (Classic, non-polycystic ovaries): Irregular ovulation + high androgens + No polycystic ovaries
3. Type C (Ovulatory PCOS): Normal ovulation + High androgens + polycystic ovaries
4. Type D (Non-hyperandrogenic PCOS): Irregular ovulation + without high androgens + polycystic ovaries
By the underlying cause or trigger
Functional Medicine Types of PCOS approach identifies four types based on by the underlying cause or trigger:
1. Insulin-Resistant PCOS
This is the most common types, in which insulin level increased, high androgen level and the person is overweight. The main reason behind this PCOS is high sugar, smoking, unhealthy fat and pollution.
2. Inflammatory PCOS
The main reason is inflammation, no ovulation and imbalanced hormones. Inflammatory PCOS is due to stress, environmental toxins and diet that cause inflammation.
3. Pills induced PCOS
This is due to symptoms appear after stopping birth control treatment which suppress ovulation. This is again the second most common PCOS.
4. Hidden PCOS
Reason behind this PCOS is unknown. Scientist don’t know the real reason behind this condition. They believe that other factors like thyroid disease, Iodine deficiency and vegetarian diet are responsible for hidden PCOS.
How iodine deficiency and vegetarian diet cause PCOS?
Ovary need iodine for proper functioning. Vegetarian diet has minimal amount of zinc as compared to non-vegetarian diet and zinc is essential for ovary health. So, both iodine deficiency and vegetarian diet are responsible for PCOS.
How to diagnosis PCOS?
In case of PCOS, doctor examine four signs while diagnosing. The person will be diagnosed with PCOS if you they have two or more of them. Among these indicators are:
- Enlarged ovaries
- High androgen levels
- Irregular periods
- Ovaries that aren’t working properly
A number of PCOS tests might assist your healthcare physician to identify your condition.
Pelvic examination
Doctor analyses the ovary health status, presence or absence of cyst, tumours and other abnormalities.
Blood Tests
To check hormone level, blood test is used to detect the presence of hormone specilally androgen in case of PCOS.
Blood test is used to detect the sugar level and diabetes to confirm the PCOS condition.
Ultrasound Test
Ultrasound test uses to analyse ovaries health, specially try to observe number of small follicles, appears as small cysts, known as string of pearls.
This test also uses to detect the size of ovary whether ovary is large or normal and to detect the thickness of uterine lining.
What is the PCOS Risk Factors?
Genetic reason
PCOS may be genetic. This implies that you may be at a higher risk of developing PCOS if your mother, sister, grandmother, or other female family has been diagnosed with it.
Although the relationships between hormone imbalance and other genetic factors that affect PCOS are not fully known, they can be passed on from one generation to the next.
Women may also be more prone to PCOS if they have a family history of Type 2 diabetes.
Lifestyle
Sedentary lifestyle – Lack of physical activity leads to weight gain, obesity, diabetes.
Unhealthy diet – Consuming high sugar, iodine and zinc deficient diet and processed foods can increase risk of PCOS.
What are the consequences of PCOS?
Difficulty in pregnancy
Unbalanced hormones might cause ovulation problems.
You cannot conceive if there isn’t a healthy egg available for a sperm to fertilize.
But even if you have PCOS, you might still be able to conceive.
You may need to consult a fertility doctor and take medication for it.
Complication during pregnancy
The majority of PCOS patients are able to have a healthy pregnancy.
However, during pregnancy, the disease increases your risk of developing high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.
Additionally, it raises the chance of miscarriage, caesarean section, and preterm delivery.
Insulin resistance and PCOS
In case of insulin resistance, muscles, and organs are unable to properly absorb blood sugar.
As a result, your blood sugar levels are elevated.
Insulin resistance doesn’t show symptoms until blood sugar levels reach a point where diabetes is diagnosed.
By the time they reached 40, over half of people with PCOS develop diabetes.
High cholesterol level
PCOS leads to high triglyceride and low high-density lipid (HDL, healthy fat), high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels.
Other complications
PCOS symptoms causes high risk of uterine and endometrial cancer, sleeping issue, liver inflammation, depression, and anxiety.
What is the treatment for PCOS?
PCOS cannot be permanently cured, although its symptoms can be controlled with medication and lifestyle improvements.
To change lifestyle
Healthy and balanced diet, regular exercise and weight management improve the health of PCOS person.
Medication
Medication prescribed by doctor like, birth control pills, medication that control sugar level, Fertility medicines, and Anti-androgen medicines can regulate the symptoms of PCOS.
Counselling or therapy for depression
Counselling or therapy for depression/anxiety linked to PCOS. It support the mental health of person and regulate the symptoms of PCOS.
Surgical treatment
Minimally invasive surgical methods can help with PCOS symptoms and reduce scarring.
By treating the underlying problems, ovarian surgery can restore normal ovarian function, enhance ovulation and monthly regularity, and raise the likelihood of conception.
Treatment of excess hair growth
Electrolysis & Laser Therapy- Permanently reduce hair growth by destroying hair roots/follicles. Multiple sessions are needed, and regrowth is usually finer.
Depilatory Creams – OTC creams or gels that dissolve hair at the skin’s surface; easy to use but temporary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the possibility of pregnancy in case of PCOS?
Yes, it is possible to get pregnant in case of PCOS. Although PCOS might increase your risk of some pregnancy issues and make it difficult to conceive, many PCOS sufferers are able to conceive naturally. Treatments are available for PCOS.
PCOS and PCOD is same or different?
Yes, Polycystic ovary disease (PCOD) is another, older name for PCOS. PCOS also known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome.
Difference and similarity between PCOS and Endometriosis?
Difference– Endometriosis does not cause symptoms like acne or excess hair but in case of PCOS it is one of the main symptoms.
Similarity– When a person is suffering from endometriosis, like PCOS it also leads to cysts in your ovaries and causes infertility, and pelvic pain.
Can person regulate the PCOS effects?
Yes, person can reduce the symptoms of PCOS by healthy life style, balanced diet, regular exercise. These improvements regulate the hormone level and improve the health of PCOS person.
Is there any genetic link to PCOS?
Although the exact genetic cause of PCOS is unknown, having close relatives with the condition increases your risk of developing it.
About 20% to 40% of people with PCOS have a sister or mother who also has the disorder. This might have to do with genes as much as comparable lifestyles.
Can I have PCOS but not have any symptoms?
It is possible to develop PCOS without experiencing any symptoms at all.
Many people are unaware that they have the illness until they experience difficulties becoming pregnant or gain weight for no apparent reason.
It’s also possible to have moderate PCOS, in which case you won’t notice any symptoms.
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