What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder in women who are menstruating or pregnant. Women with PCOS may experience some of the following -

1. Irregular or cessation of menstruation

2. Cannot get pregnant or have children

3. Obesity (usually widening the waist line or the so-called abdominal obesity where there is more fat at the waist). But women who are thin or normal in weight can also have PCOS.

4. Acne

5. Excessive hair on the face or body (usually in areas where the woman usually has no hair, such as on the surface of the lips like a mustache or on the chest)

6. Thinning of hair (such as baldness in men)

This condition is called polycystic because the ovaries of women with PCOS usually have cysts. These cysts are not cancerous.

Many women with PCOS are referred to an endocrinologist because they are associated with other health problems such as:

1. Insulin resistance. Blood sugar is difficult to digest when there is insulin resistance and it can lead to type 2 diabetes.

2. Low levels of HDL or good cholesterol and high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol. Triglycerides are also high. This increases the risk of women with PCOS having a heart attack or stroke.

3. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Women with PCOS and overweight can have OSA where they stop breathing while sleeping. When you wake up, you still feel very tired because the quality of sleep is not good because the oxygen in the blood decreases while sleeping and carbon dioxide accumulates. People with OSA also usually snore.

4. Because menstruation is irregular, the lining of the uterus can thicken. Do not neglect it to prevent endometrial cancer or lining of the uterus.

Like diabetes, there is no medicine to cure or get rid of PCOS but there are medications that can be given by the doctor to regulate menstruation and get pregnant. Proper diet and exercise are also needed to lose weight and prevent diabetes and normalize cholesterol levels. The doctor may also prescribe medication for diabetes and cholesterol.