Signs of PCOS Beyond Irregular Periods

When a condition affects 10% of women of reproductive age, yet 70% of women remain undiagnosed, that’s a problem. That’s a problem that needs to be fixed.

The condition we’re referencing is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and since September is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month, we thought it would be a good idea to review some signs.

At Bay Area Physicians for Women’s Health, our knowledgeable team has considerable experience helping our patients navigate the often-challenging world of PCOS. And one of the biggest challenges is that no two women follow the same PCOS journey.

PCOS at a glance

Despite referring to cysts and ovaries, PCOS is a hormone issue — your ovaries overproduce androgen hormones, which are associated with more male characteristics. This can create an imbalance in your reproductive hormones that can affect ovulation. 

So, the reason it’s called PCOS is because women with the condition run into ovulation problems — eggs are often immature and don't release properly, which leads to cysts on your ovaries.

When a health condition has the term syndrome attached to it, it usually means that there’s a constellation of symptoms. With PCOS, the hormone imbalance is the real issue, and this imbalance can cast a wide net, as we’ll see next.

Common signs of PCOS

Aside from cysts on your ovaries, which most women aren’t even aware they have, the most common signs of PCOS are irregular menstrual cycles and periods. Moving away from irregular periods, however, are many other side effects, including:

Facial and body hair

Thanks to the higher-than-normal androgen levels, seven out of 10 women with PCOS develop hirsutism, or excessive hair growth, in certain areas, such as your:

• Face
• Chest
• Back
• Abdomen
• Upper thighs

So, if you’re experiencing strange body or facial hair growth, it’s worth investigating whether PCOS is to blame.

Infertility

Thanks to the ovulation disorder, many women with PCOS experience fertility issues. Moreover, PCOS is among the leading causes of infertility.

Severe acne

Androgen hormones can also lead to oily skin and acne breakouts on your face and elsewhere on your body.

Patches of thickened skin

Women with PCOS can develop areas of darker skin that feel thicker and smoother. Called acanthosis nigricans, these patches of skin often develop in natural creases in your skin, such as around your neck.

Weight gain

Four out of five women with PCOS also have obesity, and the connection is bidirectional. Having PCOS places you more at risk for weight gain, and having obesity can upset your hormone balance and contribute to PCOS.

Insulin resistance

There’s a similar link between PCOS and insulin resistance, which makes women with PCOS more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

As you can see, the potential complications of PCOS range from cosmetic to quite serious, so it’s important to seek medical help that can connect the dots. If you can check any of the boxes we outlined above, it’s a good idea to come in for an evaluation. 

For expert diagnosis and care of PCOS, we invite you to contact our office in Mobile, Alabama, to schedule an appointment today.