How PCOS Affects Your Body

PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a hormonal disorder affecting women of childbearing age. PCOS can develop during puberty, or older, especially after a significant weight gain. PCOS has several different symptoms, including infertility. In fact, PCOS is one of the leading causes behind female factor infertility, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 

The Causes and Symptoms of PCOS

As a syndrome, PCOS has multiple symptoms with the most common below:

• Excessive hair growth in areas such as the face, stomach, chest and back 
• Loss of hair and male pattern baldness
• Severe acne
• Irregular periods
• Cyst-filled ovaries
• Excessive weight gain, especially around the midsection or abdominal area

While doctors work to identify the exact cause of PCOS, most symptoms are brought on by an excess of the male hormone androgen. The presence of androgen throws off the balance of your other hormones, which throws your body into a confused reproductive state. Doctors find an overproduction of androgens in roughly 60- 80 percent of women with PCOS. 

Another contributing factor of PCOS occurs in the brain and pituitary gland, a small pea-sized gland that controls the activity of most other hormone-secreting glands. When the proper hormonal signals fail to communicate to the ovaries that it’s time to mature and release the egg, and when androgens cause a hormonal imbalance, eggs aren’t released and can develop into cysts causing even more issues. 

If you’re concerned that PCOS may be affecting your fertility, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with your doctor. You want to get your PCOS under control before it takes a toll on your ability to conceive along with other potentially serious conditions.

The Effects of PCOS on Your Body

While it’s easy to focus on the “ovarian” in polycystic ovarian syndrome, the issues caused by PCOS and the imbalance of your hormones affects much more than your ovaries. Excess facial and body hair, hair loss, severe acne, excess weight and infrequent periods impact everything from your self-esteem to your quality of life. But beyond these symptoms, PCOS affects your body in other ways. Here are the most common and chronic side effects of PCOS:

• Type 2 Diabetes: Many women with PCOS are insulin resistant, part of what’s called the PCOS-related metabolic disorder. Your body makes insulin but cannot use it to effectively balance your blood sugar, putting you at a much greater risk for Type 2 diabetes. You may find you can’t lose weight or you gain weight easily, which also contributes to Type 2 diabetes.

• Higher Triglycerides and LDL, Lower HDL: Females with PCOS tend to be overweight or obese and have a very difficult time losing weight. Moreover, the weight gain typically shows up in the abdominal area. This so-called visceral fat increases your risk for elevated “bad” cholesterol and lowers your “good” or HDL cholesterol. Your elevated triglycerides put you at risk for heart disease and fatty liver, both of which can be life-threatening.

• Endometrial Cancer: When you don’t ovulate because of PCOS, your uterine lining doesn’t shed. In fact, it may continue to grow and thicken causing a condition known as endometrial hyperplasia. This buildup of the uterine lining significantly increases your risk for endometrial cancer.

• Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to pause your breathing during sleep. According to the NIH, roughly 35 percent of women with PCOS suffer from sleep apnea. Not only do you not get adequate rest but you may find yourself drowsy, irritable and having brain fog during the day. Sleep apnea, left unchecked, can increase your risk for heart disease.

• Depression: Those who have PCOS also have an increased risk for depression. This is due not only the symptoms of excessive hair growth, weight gain and acne which contribute to lowering self esteem, but also the imbalance of hormones makes it difficult to balance your mood. If you feel depressed, please contact your doctor or a medical professional. 

• Infertility: PCOS makes it difficult to know if you will ovulate and whether your egg will be viable. Without either, you can’t conceive.

• Pregnancy Complications: Because certain hormones are necessary for you to maintain your pregnancy and PCOS may cause a hormonal imbalance, you’re at an elevated risk for miscarriage or early pregnancy loss. 

How Doctors Diagnose PCOS

Your doctor will need to use different kinds of tests to confirm a PCOS diagnosis. One is a blood test to assess your hormone levels, the other is an ultrasound to identify cysts or inflammation in your ovaries. Once diagnosed, you and your doctor will discuss options for managing your PCOS.

Creating a PCOS Treatment Plan

If you are diagnosed with PCOS, your doctor will likely prescribe both lifestyle changes and medication to control your symptoms. Weight loss and a diet that reduces glucose are often the first steps to controlling and managing your PCOS. Adding at least three days a week of moderate exercise also helps you lose weight and lowers your risk for Type 2 diabetes. Some women also find that acupuncture eases many of the symptoms of PCOS.

The best way to manage your PCOS is to contact the professionals at Reproductive Health and Wellness. We’re experts at treating the whole person and their reproductive journey. Please reach out to us today.