What We Want You to Know About PCOS

When it comes to gynecologic conditions, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the more common ones — one out of 10 women in the United States has PCOS.

This is just one fact that the team of women’s health experts here at Bay Area Physicians for Women’s Health wants you to know about PCOS. There are plenty more, which we dive into below.

PCOS basics

Let’s start with some basics about PCOS, and, despite its name, cysts aren’t the main headline here. At the core of PCOS is a hormone disorder that leads to higher-than-normal androgen hormones, which are a type of steroid hormone that is related to more male characteristics. An example of an androgen is testosterone, which is the most powerful androgen.

This imbalance stems from your ovaries, which are the primary producers of your reproductive hormones. And this is also where the cysts come in — your ovulation can be altered by PCOS, causing your ovaries to produce underdeveloped eggs that don’t release well, which is what leads to the cysts on your ovaries.

Signs of PCOS

Aside from the cysts on your ovaries, the more obvious and telltale signs of PCOS mostly stem from heightened levels of testosterone in your system and include:

• Acne, especially on your body
• Facial hair growth, which affects about 70% of women with PCOS
• Thinning hair on your head
• Weight gain
• Darkening skin in creases, such as around your neck and thighs
• Skin tags

These outward signs of PCOS can be challenging for women from a cosmetic point of view.

PCOS and infertility

Though the higher-than-normal levels of androgens can lead to the outward symptoms we list above, PCOS is also a leading cause of infertility. Thanks to the effects that PCOS has on ovulation, women can find it difficult, though not impossible, to conceive.

PCOS, insulin resistance, and obesity

As the world navigates higher rates of diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity ( two out of five American adults have obesity), we’re connecting more dots between these conditions and health issues like PCOS. 

What researchers are finding is that PCOS, obesity, and insulin resistance cross over enough to understand that there are connections. Although PCOS is largely genetic, it can make you more susceptible to insulin resistance, which can exacerbate obesity.

PCOS can be treated

Our last point is an important one — there are ways in which we can treat PCOS. To start, we can work toward balancing your hormones through:

• Hormone medications
• Medications that block androgens
• Medications that address insulin resistance

In addition to these pharmacological solutions, lifestyle changes can also go a long way toward addressing PCOS, such as making improvements in your diet and implementing a better exercise regimen.

If you suspect that you have PCOS or you’d like to learn more about this condition, we’re here to help. For expert diagnosis and treatment of PCOS, we invite you to contact our office in Mobile, Alabama, to schedule an appointment today.