Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the commonest diseases that is encountered by females during their lifetime. Nearly, 1 in every 10 women come across PCOS.(1) It is often genetically determined, meaning if your family members have a history of PCOS, there is a chance of you getting the disease.
The reason for PCOS has not been identified clearly, but most experts that several factors. Women with PCOS have high androgen levels. Androgen is a sex hormone that is mainly seen in males. It has been an important sex hormone in the development of male trait patterns.(2) Also, women with PCOS have high amounts of insulin in their blood. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted in your body that controls your blood glucose levels. In PCOS, the body does not respond to insulin properly, resulting in insulin resistance.
PCOS is a disease that cannot be reversed; however, it can be treated well and patients with PCOS can have a normal life. Following are some interesting facts about PCOS.
1. PCOS has many different symptoms
PCOS is a syndrome, and is defined as a group of symptoms related to lack of ovulation combined with high androgens and insulin resistance. As mentioned previously, the symptoms we see in PCOS are related to a lack of ovulation, high androgens, and high insulin levels in the blood.
Due to high androgens, there will be excessive male pattern hair growth also known as hirsutism, and the development of a high number of acne. Due to insulin resistance, the patient will have weight gain and fatigue. On examination, you might see a darkening of the neck and axillary area which is also known as ‘acanthosis nigricans’. These patients also have irregular menstrual cycles with problems with fertility.(3)
Some of the patients with PCOS will experience all these symptoms whereas some will not experience these symptoms at all. This is part of the reason why PCOS is difficult to identify, and some go undiagnosed.
2. Women with PCOS can get pregnant
Females with PCOS have difficulties with ovulation along with irregular menstrual cycles. So, it is fair to say that females with PCOS have difficulties in getting pregnant compared to normal females. To get pregnant, an ovum needs to be released from the ovary to the fallopian tube and a sperm should be combined with the ovum. In PCOS, the ovum does not get released from the ovary. There are medications to release ovum from the ovary so that it will facilitate conception. So, even though it is difficult for some, with proper medication the patient can have a normal pregnancy.
3. PCOS is linked to a variety of health problems
Women with PCOS are at higher risk of several health conditions compared to others and some of these conditions have serious effects on lifestyle if not treated properly. Some of them are insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, heart diseases, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, and so on. Insulin resistance is a key feature of PCOS. This can result in increased appetite and weight gain. Metabolic syndrome occurs when the body is not able to balance all the chemicals that need to create energy. Metabolic syndrome is associated with high blood sugar, high blood pressure, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that 1 in 3 women with PCOS have metabolic syndrome.(4) Several studies have found that the majority of women with PCOS are obese. Cardiovascular diseases are commonly associated with PCOS and there are a range of conditions like coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and cardiomyopathies.(5)
4. Hormonal imbalances cause PCOS
As mentioned before, hormonal imbalance leads to PCOS and at the same time, the disease itself causes hormonal imbalances. The hormones involved in the process are insulin and androgen. The patient will have high levels of insulin and androgens leading to subfertility, irregular menstruation along with various clinical signs and symptoms.
5. PCOS is curable
Although the disease cannot be reversed it can be controlled with lifestyle modifications and medications. Lifestyle modification includes weight reduction, dietary modification, and regular exercise. The first line medication for PCOS is Metformin, an oral anti-diabetic drug. This has numerous health benefits for PCOS; controls insulin resistance, weight reduction, controls diabetes mellitus, and makes the cycles regular. Hormonal contraceptive pills like estrogen and progesterone combined will help to make the cycles regular, reduce acne and reduce hirsutism. For subfertility, ovulation induction therapy with letrozole/ clomiphene citrate is indicated. Topical antibiotics can be given for acnes. These medications should be given after a through medical assessment. So, consulting a doctor prior to having medication is important.(6)
Summary
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the commonest diseases that is seen in females. It is due to an imbalance of the hormones that are produced in the body. Genetics also plays a main role. PCOS has many different signs and symptoms and it is associated with a number of diseases involving the cardiovascular system and endocrine system. Although the disease is irreversible, if treated well, the patients can have a normal life. If you suspect PCOS, the best option is to consult a healthcare provider.
Resources
- Deswal, R., Narwal, V., Dang, A., & Pundir, C. S. (2020). The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Brief Systematic Review. Journal of human reproductive sciences, 13(4), 261–271. https://doi.org/10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_95_18
- Polycystic ovary syndrome | Office on Women’s Health. (n.d.). https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/polycystic-ovary-syndrome
- Bishop, E. (2022, September 11). 5 Surprising Facts About PCOS That You May Not Know • Nourish Health Food Pharmacy & Compounding. Nourish Health Food Pharmacy & Compounding Chemist. https://www.nourishhealth.com.au/5-surprising-facts-about-pcos/
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). (n.d.). ACOG. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=otn
- Are there disorders or conditions associated with PCOS? (2022, September 29). https://www.nichd.nih.gov/. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pcos/more_information/FAQs/conditions-associated
- Williams, T. (2016, July 15). Diagnosis and Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. AAFP. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2016/0715/p106.html