Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance that can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, weight and reproductive system. It has also been linked to higher instances of diabetes and midriff obesity.
Essentially, it is when a woman’s body produces an abundance of the male hormone, Androgen.
Approximately one in ten women suffers from PCOS during their childbearing years.
What causes PCOS?
The exact cause of PCOS is unconfirmed, but because it is a hormonal imbalance, doctors currently believe that it is lifestyle based. PCOS is not a disease, but a symptom that it is strongly linked to excess body fat and high levels of androgens (male hormones), which may be increased further by excess fat, says US gynaecologist, Dr Christiane Northrup, in her book Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom.
As the word polycystic suggests, many cysts form in the ovaries and around the reproductive organs.
Every month during ovulation, ovaries release eggs to be fertilised by sperm.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) control ovulation. FSH stimulates the ovary to produce a follicle — a sac that contains an egg — and then LH triggers the ovary to release a mature egg, explains Healthline.
PCOS is a “syndrome”, or group of symptoms that affects this process, sometimes halting the menstrual cycle altogether.
Many women with PCOS experience irregular hair growth, usually not expected from the female anatomy such as on the lip, chin and chest. PCOS sufferers also experience heavy bleeding during periods, or experience no period at all. Some women find out that they have PCOS after a series of miscarriages.
Acne is also a common symptom.
How is it treated?
Hormone treatments and hormone altering medication like birth control are used to balance the hormones in the body.
The treatment usually doesn’t reverse PCOS, but reverses the symptoms, easing certain discomforts of the condition. Most doctors will suggest a lifestyle that promotes weight loss.
WebMD says that many women with PCOS are overweight or obese. Losing just 5% to 10% of your body weight may ease some symptoms and help make your periods more regular. It may also help manage problems with blood sugar levels and ovulation.
