PCOS is a hormonal disorder that is common among women of reproductive age (15-44 years). It stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Between 2.2% to 26.7% of women falling into this age bracket have the symptoms of PCOS. Because of PCOS, you may face a prolonged or an infrequent menstrual cycle or excess androgen levels. The ovaries might develop numerous small collections of follicles and fail to regularly release eggs, causing PCOS. One of the main features of PCOS cysts in the ovaries. “Polycystic” means to have many cysts that grow in the ovaries.
The reason of PCOS is higher than normal levels of certain hormones; androgens. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can cause missed or irregular periods, acne, infertility, excessive hair growth or weight gain. Women with PCOS can be at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart problems or high blood pressure.
PCOS cannot be cure but the symptoms can be managed through proper treatment. Unmanaged PCOS can impact short and long term health. It may cause a number of health issues including fatty liver diseases, sleep apnea or depression. Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce these risks majorly.
Doctors haven’t exactly found out the reason for PCOS. It might be because of high levels of androgens that prevent the ovaries from producing hormones and making eggs normally. Genes, insulin resistance and inflammation have all been linked to the excess production of androgen.
The most common symptoms of PCOS can be:
- Irregular Periods
- Heavy Bleeding
- Hair Growth
- Acne
- Weight Gain
- Male pattern baldness
- Frequent Headaches
Treatment for PCOS usually starts with a few lifestyle changes like weight loss, diet and exercise. Losing weight with PCOS can help regulate your menstrual cycle and improve the other symptoms. It can also be effective to improve cholesterol levels, lower insulin, reduced heart diseases and risk of diabetes.
Diets that help you lose weight can help you overcome your symptoms. Some diets are more effective than the others. A diet with maximum carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables and whole grains help regulate your menstrual cycle better than a regular weight loss diet. Exercise is even more beneficial when combined with a healthy diet. It has been found out that acupuncture can also help with improving PCOS.
If you are missing your periods while you’re not pregnant, you have excessive hair growth on your face and body, you have symptoms of diabetes; such as excess thirst or hunger, blurred vision, or unexplained weight loss, it’s time to go see your Gynaecologist.
FATIMAH KHAN
