By Joseph Geyer, MD
Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN
Irregular periods. Infertility. Thinning hair. These are some of the symptoms experienced by the 5 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), whose cause is still unknown. Many researchers think that PCOS is hereditary, while others think that the hormones insulin and testosterone could be at fault. Here are some common symptoms of PCOS:
- Acne or oily skin
- Thinning hair or male-pattern baldness
- Insulin resistance or diabetes
- Increased hair growth on the face, chest or back
- Infertility
- No menstrual periods or irregular menstrual periods
- Ovarian cysts
If you are experiencing these symptoms, consult your doctor who can help you develop a care plan. Treatments are usually based on a woman’s personal symptoms and stage of life. Many treatments focus on healthy diet and exercising. Healthy food choices keep weight down which helps keep insulin levels stable, decreasing a woman’s risk of diabetes.
Medications prescribed often include fertility pills, diabetes medicine (if the woman has diabetes) and anti-androgens that counteract the male side effects of testosterone like acne or hair growth.
What else should I know?
Having PCOS leaves women at an increased risk for other diseases. Women with PCOS are prone to having high cholesterol and blood-pressure levels, which increases their risk for heart disease. Diabetes is a risk, too, because of impaired insulin levels. Finally, because hormone levels of progesterone are affected, the chance for developing endometrial cancer is elevated.
The good news is…
With proper diet and exercise, many of the risks associated with PCOS can be managed. Drug treatments can also help women become pregnant, and help control diabetes should it develop. PCOS may alter a woman’s life, but starting a family and leading an active life are still possible.
Sources: WomensHealth.gov, HHS.gov