As the primary reason for irregular periods and a leading — but treatable — cause of female infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes reproductive hormonal imbalances that affect about 10% of women of childbearing age in the United States.
PCOS is classified as a syndrome, not a disease, because it gives rise to an identifiable group of symptoms and physical effects, but its underlying cause isn’t fully understood.
In recognition of PCOS Awareness Month, board-certified OB/GYN Susan Crockett, MD, and our team at Virtuosa GYN want to highlight this common yet routinely underdiagnosed condition and the many effects it can have on your appearance, fertility, and health.
Understanding your PCOS diagnosis
PCOS appears to develop when chronic, low-grade inflammation prompts your ovaries to make more androgens, or male hormones, than normal. Persistently high androgen levels set the stage for adverse hormonal and metabolic imbalances with far-reaching physical, reproductive, and health effects.
We make a clinical diagnosis of PCOS when at least two of the following indicators are present:
Irregular periods
Having irregular menstrual periods, including frequent missed periods, is a common sign of PCOS. Your periods may be spaced more than 35 days apart, or they may last longer than normal. It’s not unusual to have fewer than eight periods per year with PCOS.
Polycystic ovaries
PCOS may trigger the development of numerous fluid-filled sacs (cysts) along the edges of one or both ovaries. Visible with a routine ultrasound exam, these small cyst clusters aren’t the same as the functional ovarian cysts, which can appear as a result of normal ovulation.
Excess androgens
Androgens (i.e., testosterone) are known as male hormones because they direct male sex characteristics and reproduction, but women’s bodies also produce androgens at lower levels. Excess androgen levels are associated with several conspicuous PCOS symptoms.
PCOS can have far-reaching effects
PCOS is associated with numerous adverse changes, ranging from physical symptoms and fertility concerns to insulin resistance and other serious health effects. Let’s take a closer look.
Physical symptoms
Most physical signs of PCOS stem from a reproductive hormonal imbalance (excess androgens), a metabolic imbalance (excess insulin), or both. Physical signs of PCOS include:
- Oily skin and acne
- Excess facial hair
- Thinning scalp hair
- Skin tag formation
- Dark skin patches
- Easy weight gain
Difficulty losing weight is another common physical effect of PCOS, and it’s one that can make it harder to manage the condition. Excess body weight tends to exacerbate PCOS symptoms and health effects.
Fertility problems
PCOS-related fertility problems may be a product of irregular, unpredictable menstruation and ovulation, or they may be related to the presence of cyst clusters and high androgen levels that interfere with normal ovarian function and ovulation.
Often, a combination of these factors is what makes it harder to get pregnant with PCOS.
Serious health effects
As time goes on, PCOS can set the stage for metabolic syndrome, a collection of co-occurring conditions (obesity, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance) that increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, depression and anxiety, eating disorders, and endometrial cancer.
Manage PCOS, improve your health
Given the cumulative magnitude of its physical symptoms, fertility implications, and potential health complications, a PCOS diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do to help you manage the condition, minimize its effects on your appearance, preserve your fertility, and protect your long-term well-being.
A comprehensive PCOS treatment plan may include recommendations for:
- Weight loss and long-term weight control
- Increased physical activity and improved fitness
- Heart-healthy eating patterns
- Treatment for insulin resistance or prediabetes
- Medical care for chronic acne breakouts
- Treatment to remove unwanted facial hair
- Medication to regulate your menstrual cycle
If you’re actively trying to conceive, we may also prescribe ovulation-promoting medication to support improved fertility and increase your odds of getting pregnant.
Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed with PCOS or you suspect you may have it, we can help. To learn more or schedule an appointment at Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, give us a call today.
