Could You Be Suffering From Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects the sexual wellness and wellbeing of far more women that you may realise. Often abbreviated to PCOS, the condition affects between five and ten percent of all women. It is the most common endocrine condition in women who are of a reproductive age.

 

PCOS occurs when high levels of androgens (hormones) halt the development of eggs, and this leads to an enlarged follicle and immature egg. These are sometimes likened to a string of pearls, and the immature follicles are cysts. Usually, a follicle would rupture to release an egg, but in the case of PCOS, this does not happen and the follicle remains and is what is observed as a cyst during an ultrasound scan.

 

There are a variety of symptoms associated with PCOS. This is due to the fact that the disease comes alongside high levels of male homrones/androgens. These hormones are found in both women and men but they are generally thought of as more ‘male’ as they are found in much higher levels in men. These androgens include dihydrotestosterone, testosterone and androstenedione.

 

There is a strong link between polycystic ovaries and obesity, as well as insulin resistance (which is a precursor of type 2 diabetes). Women who are obese and suffering from PCOS will normally be given a treatment plan that involves a great deal of exercise and a restricted diet. About a third of the women who have PCOS and are obese also suffer from insulin resistance of diabetes.

 

In premenopausal women, around one in ten cases of diabetes is connected to PCOS. Having the syndrome may also increase your risk of developing heart disease, although further studies into this link still need to be carried out.

 

If you think you may be suffering from PCOS, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Categories: Diabetes, follicle, high levels, insulin resistance, nbsp, ovary, pcos, polycystic, syndrome, Women

Testing with No Test: How Will Your Doctor Diagnose PCOS?

As well as harming your sexual health, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can take its toll on your emotional wellbeing, as there’s no simple or easy test for it. With your doctor, you’ll thoroughly dissect your medical history, and put your wellness through physical examination and a couple of lab tests, before your GP can come to a diagnosis. The aim of PCOS testing is to determine whether your inventory of symptoms stem from PCOS or another disorder. But what are the symptoms of PCOS?

 

• Hirsutism (This means you have excess hair on your body and/or face. This will be particularly evident on your chin, upper lip, breasts, inner thighs and abdomen.)


• Irregular or infrequent periods.


• Obesity.


• Acne and/or oily skin (This will be particularly severe acne in teenagers or acne that persists into adulthood.)


• Infertility.


• Ovarian cysts.


• Balding or hair loss.


• Acanthosis nigricans (This is a symptom in which your skin darkens, usually on the neck. If it’s not due to PCOS, acanthosis nigricans is also a sign of insulin problems.)


• Skin tags. (This means you have small pieces of excess skin in your armpits or neck area.)

 

While PCOS means you could have any of these symptoms in varying combinations, there are two essential features of the disorder:

 

1. Hyperandrogenism: This condition, or symptoms indicating hyperandrogenism, means that you have excess levels of androgens in your blood. Androgens are hormones such as testosterone that that can cause you to develop acne and excess facial/body hair if found in excess quantities. If your case of hyperandrogenism is severe, you may experience “virilisation” which may mean that you bald more at the temples, your voice deepens, your muscles grow or your clitoris gets bigger. This latter symptom is known as clitoromegaly.

 

2. Period problems: For a PCOS diagnosis, there also has to be problems with your periods. This may mean you don’t ovulate, or your ovulation is irregular. At the same time, your menstruation is likewise absent or irregular. If you suffer from PCOS, you may have oligomenorrhea, which means you only have eight or fewer periods in a given year. Women with PCOS have also been known to experience amenorrhea, or the absence of periods for extended periods. Then you have some women with PCOS who have polymenorrhea, or periods that are too frequent.

 

The problem with PCOS is that it’s a hormonal disorder, and these are notoriously complex. Often, the symptoms suggest more than one potential cause, which is why the diagnostic process likely will include a thorough physical and history to check for hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome and tumours. As we’ve already covered, there is no test for PCOS, but that doesn’t mean that there are no tests that your doctor can do. A healthcare professional may want to measure your blood levels of a range of hormones.

 

Your doctor may check for your blood levels of the thyroid hormone, as the symptoms of low thyroid function are often similar to those of PCOS. Prolactin is also often tested for when diagnosing PCOS. This hormone is responsible for stimulating your body’s production of milk, but high levels can lead to irregular or absent menses similar to those of PCOS. Your doctor may look for your levels of androgens, including dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone. These hormones are often referred to as “male hormones,” and are frequently associated with PCOS. Excess levels of androgens cause “male-like” symptoms such as excess body or facial hair. Finally, you might have tests to find your body’s levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), as a high ratio of LH to FSH — typically three-to-one — is characteristic of PCOS.

Categories: acanthosis nigricans, blood levels, excess, Excess Levels, levels, nbsp, pcos, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Symptoms, Testing

Are Your Weird Periods a Sign of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

Though it may not feel like it when you’re laid out on the sofa with a hot water bottle strapped to your lower back, your menstrual cycle plays an important part in your wellbeing. A healthy, normal cycle controls your fertility and has many other functions, but certain health concerns can get in the way of your menstrual wellness. One such concern is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

 

If you break down the word “polycystic”, it simply means many cysts. PCOS, therefore, means that you have by clusters of pearl-size cysts in your ovaries. Due to a hormonal imbalance, these fluid-filled cysts contain eggs that have not been releases. Although no one knows exactly why PCOS occurs, researchers believe that decreased insulin sensitivity may play a role. If this is the case, your body requires more insulin than normal to ensure your cells absorb enough sugar, which means you end up with higher levels of insulin in you blood. This causes your ovaries to produce male hormones, and this triggers or worsens your symptoms of PCOS. If you notice areas of your skin are darker, this could be a sign of high insulin levels.

 

So how do you know if you have PCOS?

 

1. Your sister has PCOS. This means there’s a 50% chance that you will be likewise affected.

 

2. You have irregular menstrual periods; it’s either heavy, absent, or unpredictable.

 

3. You’re infertile. You gave up birth control measures a year ago and still haven’t conceived.

 

4. You’re obese.

 

5. You have abnormal hair growth on your face, chest, abdomen, or upper thighs.

 

6. You have severe acne that does not respond to usual treatments.

 

7. You have patches of thick, velvety, dark skin.

 

If you think you might have PCOS, you should see a specialist to have a physical exam, a review of your medical history, a hormone test, a glucose test and an ultrasound of your ovaries. There are many treatments for PCOS, but the one you will receive will depend on your individual symptoms, pre-existing health problems and whether or not you wish to become pregnant. Treatments include female hormone preparations, weight loss, diabetes medications, ovulation-induction, anti-male hormone medications and proper nutrition and exercise.

Categories: nbsp, obesity, ovary syndrome, pcos, pcos nbsp, polycystic ovary, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Unusual Periods