For many women, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder that mainly affects hormones. The condition causes many different effects, like a rise in androgens or irregular menstrual periods, along with other major and minor symptoms. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but many factors can contribute to increased complications. In this blog, we will discuss in detail what PCOS is, how it can affect your life, and solutions that will help.
PCOS affects as many as six to ten percent of women in the country. It is easily considered one of the most complex disorders that affect someone’s body in many ways. At the core, PCOS affects the hormones, causing an imbalance throughout the entire body. The main thing that doctors look for when diagnosing PCOS is hyperandrogenism. Hyperandrogenism is an overproduction of androgen, a sex hormone that affects the body during puberty. Typically, males produce more androgens than women, but in the case of PCOS, women can suffer from the overproduction of androgens. Overproduction of this can cause women to have:
- Excess Facial Hair Growth
- Increase in Muscle Mass
- Acne
- Inconsistent Menstrual Periods
- Deeper Voice
- Mood Swings/Low Libido
- Changes in Breast Size
- Hair Loss
- Obesity
- Infertility
- Mood Swings
One condition doctors look for is anovulation, an egg that is not released during the ovulation period. Anovulation is what causes irregularity in menstrual periods, which is the main symptom of PCOS. The last thing that doctors look for is one’s ovaries. Most women who deal with PCOS have cysts that reside on their ovaries. The last thing that doctors look for when diagnosing PCOS is genealogy. Most women who are diagnosed with PCOS have a relative with the same disorder, usually the mother or sister.
When diagnosed with PCOS, understanding the symptoms will help understand how to live with this disorder. A complication of this disorder is infertility because of anovulation. When there is a lack of ovulation, this can critically reduce your chances of getting pregnant. Now, because a woman is diagnosed with PCOS does not mean there is no hope for women to become pregnant. There are many ways to ensure that PCOS causes little effect on your life.
After being diagnosed, doctors can devise a plan to reduce the effects of PCOS. If your concern is fertility and your menstrual period has been affected, then it is important to speak to your gynecologist regarding fertility medication. two common medications are clomiphene citrate and letrozole, both ovulation-inducing medications. For others, the everyday struggles of PCOS can be enough to seek help when dealing with these side effects. To reduce the effects of PCOS, it is important to be cautious of your diet. High fiber vegetables, anti-inflammatory foods, and lean proteins like fish and certain parts of the chicken can help lower the effects of PCOS. Birth control is also another way to regulate PCOS regarding hormone levels and menstrual periods. With excessive hair growth, it is best to invest in laser hair removal. It destroys the hair follicle resulting in less hair growth in unwanted areas. In an extreme case, some women opt out of surgery called ovarian drilling. The procedure includes putting a small hole in the ovaries to alter the hormone levels and help the ovulation process.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects so many lives of women, but there is still living with it. Whether diet changes to surgery, there is always an option to minimize the effects of PCOS. For many women who experience this, it is important to discuss with your doctor your symptoms and a treatment option specifically for you. At Eyden Skin, we can help regulate your symptoms through skin treatments for acne, vitamin shots, and IV Therapy. Click here to book your appointment today.