What is polycystic ovary syndrome?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition which can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones and aspects of her appearance. It can also affect long-term health.

What are polycystic ovaries?
Polycystic ovaries are slightly larger than normal ovaries and have twice the number of follicles (small cysts). Polycystic ovaries are very common affecting 20 in 100 (20%) of women.

Having polycystic ovaries does not mean you have polycystic ovary syndrome. Around 6 or 7 in 100 (6–7%) of women with polycystic ovaries have PCOS.

Each month an egg matures in a woman’s ovary. The egg is Surrounded by a sac called a follicle. The cells of the follicle first produce the hormone estrogen. The egg is thenreleased (ovulation), and the follicle cells begin to produce progesterone as well as estrogen.

Women with PCOS produce an excess amount of male sex hormones called androgens. All women produce a certain amount of these hormones. When too much is produced, it can prevent ovulation. This can result in infertility. Too much androgen also can result in excess hair growth and irregular bleeding.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

The symptoms of PCOS can include:

● irregular periods or no periods at all

● difficulty becoming pregnant (reduced fertility)

● having more facial or body hair than is usual for you (hirsutism)

● loss of hair on your head

● being overweight, rapid increase in weight, difficulty losing weight

● oily skin, acne, black patches on skin

● depression and mood swings.

The symptoms may vary from woman to woman. Some women have mild symptoms, while others are affected more severely by a wider range of symptoms.

What causes PCOS?

The cause of PCOS is not yet known. PCOS sometimes runs in families. If any of your relatives (mother, aunts, sisters) are affected with PCOS, your own risk of developing PCOS may be increased.

The symptoms of PCOS are related to abnormal hormone levels. Hormones are chemical messengers which control body functions. Testosterone is a hormone which is produced by the ovaries. Women with PCOS have slightly higher than normal levels of testosterone and this is associated with many of the symptoms of the condition.

Insulin is a hormone which regulates the level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood.
If you have PCOS, your body may not respond to the hormone insulin (known as insulin resistance), so the level of glucose is higher. To prevent the glucose levels becoming higher, your body produces more insulin. High levels of insulin can lead to weight gain, irregular periods, infertility and higher levels of testosterone.

What is the effect of PCOD on my chance of being pregnant?

Irregular menstruation means either no/faulty egg production and you need to take pills / injection to conceive, sometimes laparoscopy to correct the extra cysts.

Resistant cases may need assisted reproduction like IVF ( test tube baby). This all process counts heavy on time, money and visits to doctor further leads to stress.

What could PCOS mean for my long-term health?
You are at greater risk of developing the following long-term health problems if you have
PCOS:

Insulin resistance and diabetes
If your blood glucose does not stay normal, this can lead to diabetes. One or two inevery ten (10–20%) women with PCOS go on to develop diabetes at some time.

Untreated, this causes damage to organs in the body.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you will be given dietary advice and may be prescribed tablets or insulin injections.

High blood pressure
Women with PCOS tend to have high blood pressure, which is likely to be related to insulin resistance and to being overweight, rather than the PCOS itself. High blood pressure can lead to heart problems and should be treated.

Hyperlipidimia and high cholesterol levels
Heart disease
Endometrial cancer
With fewer periods (less than three a year), the endometrium (lining of the womb) can thicken and this may lead to endometrial cancer in a small number of women.
There are different ways to protect the lining of the womb using the hormone progestogen. PCOS does not increase your chance of breast, cervical or ovarian cancer.
Depression and mood swings
Snoring and sleep apnoea

What can I do to reduce long-term health risks?

● Have regular exercise

● Have balanced food with complex carbohydrates, less fat and normal proteins.

● Distressing yogas

● Regular health check up

● Plan pregnancy early