Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is a hormonal disorder in women. This disorder is common among women of reproductive age. It can cause issues with your menstrual cycle and make it difficult to become pregnant. Some women experience unwanted changes in their physical appearance. In most cases women develop small fluid filled sacs on their ovaries called cysts. These cysts do not cause direct harm, but they can cause further hormonal imbalances.
Doctors aren’t completely sure what causes the disorder, but it seems to have a genetic component. If other women in your family have PCOS, then you are more likely to develop the disorder. Signs and symptoms can start out mild and escalate as the hormones get more and more unbalanced. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can lead to further health complications if left untreated such as diabetes and heart disease. The following list of symptoms is offered to help you better understand how the disorder might present itself. It’s not necessary to have every symptom on the list to have PCOS. If you’re worried that you’re showing signs of this disorder, it’s important for you to contact your doctor. While the disorder can’t be cured, it can be maintained with proper treatment.
1. Abnormal Menstruation
The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, but it’s considered normal to have a cycle that lasts anywhere between 21 and 35 days. A normal period can be anywhere from four to seven days. The average amount of blood loss during a period is around 20 ml to 40 ml, but for some women it can be as low as 10 ml to as high as 60 ml. Losing more than 60 ml of blood during a period is considered abnormally heavy.
Some women with PCOS won’t experience abnormal menstruation, but often high levels of the male hormone androgen will cause menstrual irregularities. These irregularities can come in the form of periods that are too heavy or too light. The hormonal imbalance can cause the ovaries to not develop or release an egg, causing your cycle to lengthen to outside the normal cycle length. It’s not uncommon for women with PCOS to experience less than nine periods a year. Regular menstruation is important for the health of women in their reproductive years. The act of menstruation prevents excessive thickening of the uterus lining. Excessive thickening of the uterus can lead to a buildup of abnormal cells, which can cause serious health issues like cancer.
2. Spotting
Spotting is when you pass blood from your vagina outside of your period. Spotting can range in colors from a very light pink to bright red to a ruddy brown. As the name suggests, the blood should come in the form of spots. It’ll be very light, and you may only notice it when going to the restroom. Many women experience spotting throughout their lives, so this symptom alone should not cause alarm. When combined with other symptoms it can point to underlying health issues. If you’re worried that your spotting may be abnormal, it’s important to discuss it with your doctor.
3. Obesity
Obesity is classified as having too much body fat. The most common method of deciding if a person is obese is when their body mass index, commonly shortened to BMI, is higher than 30. Many people nowadays struggle with losing weight, but women with PCOS may find it near impossible to lose weight. Because androgen tends to be the trigger for weight gain, women with this disorder tend to carry fat in their stomach area like men.
4. Acne
When oil and dead skin get trapped in your pores it can cause acne to develop. Most people experience acne when going through puberty, but if you get frequent breakouts as an adult, it may be a sign of a health issue. When your body produces too much androgen, the excess hormone causes your skin to be oilier. When acne is caused by PCOS, it tends to form tender lumps under the skin instead of the common raised acne bump. These lumps tend to form on the jawline, cheeks, parts of the neck, and chin, but it can occur on other areas.
5. Infertility
Infertility is described as in inability to get pregnant after consistently trying during a 12-month time frame. PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women. This is because of the imbalance in hormones. The high level of androgen can disrupt the creation and release of an egg during ovulation. This symptom is most often seen with abnormal menstruation. If you are a woman struggling with infertility, then you should contact your doctor. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the issue causing infertility and suggest methods to overcome the issue. Most women with PCOS can conceive with treatment.
6. Depression
Depression is a state of sadness and a decline in desire for activities you once enjoyed. This can last from a couple weeks to several years if left untreated. Some people experience it throughout the year, but some people will find it comes and goes depending on certain seasons. The latter is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Depression can make it difficult for people to carry out necessary day-to-day tasks, but there are treatment options to keep it under control. Unbalanced hormones can lead to mood issues such as depression. Around a third of women diagnosed with PCOS will experience depression.
7. Loss of Scalp
Hair Loss of scalp hair or baldness is related to the male sex hormone androgen. When baldness occurs the follicle that holds hair shrinks overtime. The hair in the follicle becomes thinner and finer until it no longer grows at all. Baldness tends to happen in a pattern. You may notice your hairline receding, or you may notice that the center of your head has thinner hair than other areas. This will progress until baldness occurs. Women do not normally experience baldness, but because PCOS causes the body to overproduce the hormone androgen, it’s possible for women with PCOS to begin balding. Many women regrow their hair once starting treatment for PCOS.
8. Unwanted Hair
The other side of the baldness coin is unwanted hair, also called hirsutism. The excess androgen in your system can also cause hair growth in areas where women do not normally grow hair. The instances of unwanted hair vary between women. Most women with PCOS will experience hair on either their face, back, chest, or stomach, but it is possible to experience it on other areas of the body. While not directly harmful, it can cause emotional distress, and it is a sign that your hormones are imbalanced. If you experience unwanted hair growth, you should contact your doctor to figure out the underlying cause and possible treatment options.
