There are so many myths and so much misunderstanding surrounding PCOS, which is surprising as it affects as many as 1 in 10 women. In this blog post, Dr Frankie has you covered and will clear up some of the confusion.
What is PCOS?
PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and it is a condition which affects a woman’s ovaries. The first confusing thing about PCOS is the name – you don’t actually have to have cysts on your ovaries to be diagnosed with this condition. More about this later…
How do I know if I have it?
Symptoms of PCOS usually become apparent during late teenage years or early 20s around half of women who have this condition don’t even show symptoms. Symptoms vary from woman to woman, but can include:
- Irregular periods (or no periods at all)
- Excessive hair growth – in male pattern usually on face, chest, back (also known as hirsutism)
- Weight gain + difficulty losing weight
- Hair loss or hair thinning on the head
- Acne
- Can also experience difficulty getting pregnant as a result of irregular ovulation or failure to ovulate (but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible to get pregnant, so if you suffer with PCOS please do not panic. Speak to your own doctor)
How is it diagnosed?
Many women may have some of the symptoms above without having PCOS. Diagnosis is based on having at least 2 out 3 of the following criteria:
- ‘polycystic’ ovaries – when eggs develop in our ovaries, they form fluid filled sacs called follicles. Usually each month, one or 2 follicles will develop and will release an egg at the time of ovulation. In PCOS, many of these follicles are often underdeveloped and don’t release an egg. These follicles can be seen on an ultrasound scan and make the ovaries look ‘cystic’ – but they are not truly cysts.
- Irregular periods – due to the irregular development of follicles, sometimes an egg may not be released during ovulation which can affect the regularity of the menstrual cycle
- Excess androgens – androgens are the ‘male’ hormones such as testosterone. It’s normal for women to have some androgens, but in PCOS this level may be slightly higher, and can cause physical signs such as excess body hair or acne.
Only 2 out of 3 of these features need to be present to make a diagnosis of PCOS and so confusingly, you don’t even need to have the ovarian ‘cysts’ to be diagnosed with the condition. And also, having polycystic ovaries on a scan doesn’t necessarily mean you have PCOS… confusing right!?
So what causes it?
The exact cause is unknown which can be frustrating for women who suffer with it. It does often run in families and is thought to be related to abnormal levels of androgens (male hormones like testosterone) in the body and a resistance to the hormone insulin (a hormone that controls blood sugar levels). Many women with PCOS are resistant to the action of insulin in their body and produce higher levels of insulin to overcome this, which may contribute to the increased production and activity of hormones like testosterone.
What should I do if I think I have PCOS?
If you think you may be affected by some of the symptoms of this condition then please book in to see your own doctor to have some investigations. If in doubt, it’s always better to get checked out rather than self-diagnosing. This usually starts with a simple blood test and you may require an ultrasound scan. There are treatments available and some of them are things you can do at home such as controlling your weight. Adipose tissue (fat tissue) can make testosterone and can make symptoms worse.
Many women worry about how PCOS can affect their fertility. Having PCOS doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get pregnant; you might just need to speak to your doctor about it as it may take a bit longer and you may need some medications or interventions. Most women with PCOS have successful pregnancies.
Did you know about these features of PCOS?
Dr Frankie
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