POLYCYSTIC Ovary Syndrome or PCOS, as defined by PCOS Awareness Association, is a health condition that affects about 10 million women in the world.
The exact cause is unknown but it is considered a hormonal problem. It is common among women of childbearing age, 20 to 35 years old.
“It is a leading cause of female infertility and is responsible for a number of symptoms that can affect the body physically and emotionally,” PCOS Awareness Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advocacy of PCOS, added.
According to a research written by Christopher McCartney and John Marshall, among women with this syndrome, 50 to 80 percent are obese.
“Women with the polycystic ovary syndrome have lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than women without the syndrome,” they informed.
The PCOS Awareness Association stated that the following are the symptoms of PCOS, which may begin shortly after puberty but can also develop during the later teen years and early adulthood.
- Irregular or missed periods as a result of not ovulating
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Unwanted hair growth (also known as hirsutism)
- Thinning hair on the head
- Infertility
- Acne
- Mood changes
- Pelvic pain
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
The PCOS Awareness Association also mentioned that because the symptoms may be attributed to other causes or go unnoticed, PCOS may go undiagnosed for some time.
According to medical literature, there is no cure for PCOS, however, the treatment aims to manage the symptoms that affect a person.
There are many ways you can decrease or eliminate PCOS symptoms and feel better. The doctor may offer different medicines that can treat symptoms.
Treatment measures, based from medical literature, researches, and the PCOS Awareness Association, include:
- Birth control pills or hormonal birth control (for a woman who is not seeking to become pregnant). It can help regulate periods and improve excess hair growth and acne.
- Diabetes medications. These help manage diabetes.
- Clomiphene (Clomid). It is an oral medication that is the most common treatment used to induce ovulation.
- Surgical options like ovarian drilling, oophorectomy, hysterectomy and cyst aspiration.
Endocrine Society, the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology, said treating PCOS early may help prevent drop in fertility.
Health providers may include: primary care doctor, gynecologist, medical endocrinologist, reproductive endocrinologist, dermatologist, psychologist and/or psychiatrist, and dietitian.
PCOS Awareness Month is celebrated during the month of September. PCOS Awareness Association has organized various events, such as the PCOS Strides 5K Walk, which is a walk to not only raise awareness of PCOS but to advocate and raise funds for the research of PCOS, and among others.