Living with PCOS? Here’s what you need to know

PCOS

PCOS is a condition caused due to miss management of reproductive hormones. Women who are in their reproductive years are at risk of developing this hormonal disorder known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. It leads to irregular or completely absent periods for months at a time. It might have an impact on your capacity to conceive, so it becomes important to Consult Top Gynecologists.

Our body has specific hormones aimed to perform certain functions. So, when the reproductive hormones that are responsible for conception are out of balance, these are the hormones that are not being secreted or secreted too much:

Progesterone – This hormone is secreted in deficiency. As it is responsible for a regular healthy menstruation cycle, you may experience irregular or absent periods for months at a time.

PCOS is a lifestyle disease. Thus, it brings several other ailments with it, adding to its complexity and severity. Treating PCOS is a process. Your healthcare provider will help you in coming up with an action plan according to the symptoms you are experiencing in accordance with you and your family’s health history. 

Early Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms may vary from individual to individual according to their genes and health history. One may experience one to two symptoms or a bunch of them.

• Irregular, prolonged, or missing periods by a few weeks up to months.
• Increased facial hair growth and acne.
• Unexplained sudden weight gain and trouble losing it.
• Hair thinning or adding during mid-aged patients.
• Pelvic pain
• Unexplained exhaustion and trouble sleeping
• Darkened and stacked skin under the armpits and neck
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What causes PCOS

Stating fixed reasons for PCOS is not possible as doctors do not know the cause of PCOS. Some of the reasons known now are:

• Having a family history of PCOS.
• Being overweight, due to a sudden weight gain.
• Any disease that makes excessive insulin-like in the case of diabetes. This hampers the ability of the ovaries to produce and release the egg on time.
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How is PCOS treated

Treatment for PCOS is determined by the age, severity, and the choice for conceiving in the near future. Common medical treatments for PCOS include a prescription of birth control pills by a doctor and some mandatory lifestyle changes. 

Lifestyle changes are the first and foremost prescription by a doctor. It includes having a balanced healthy diet coupled with regular physical activity. 

Since all the symptoms of PCOS are interrelated, it is advised to start with a healthy diet in managing living with PCOS. A healthy diet helps in losing weight which in turn helps in regulating insulin resistance, and healthy hair, and skin. All of these results together have a positive impact on one’s emotional health.

Birth Control Pills

These pills contain Progestin hormone which helps in maintaining a healthy hormone secretion.

Protect against Endometrial cancer. Try to maintain healthy ovulation and control unwanted hair growth

Metformin

It is a very effective medication for PCOS by initiating a healthy menstrual cycle. This medicine aims to improve insulin levels which are one of the main reasons for PCOS. This medicine is much more effective than maintaining a healthy diet coupled with regular exercise. This is prescribed when one is looking to conceive in the near future.

Ovarian drilling

It is a surgical procedure wherein tiny holes are drilled in the ovary with the help of a laser or fine heated needles to re-establish normal ovulation.

Complications

PCOS brings with it a multitude of complications.

1. Infertility is a very obvious complication of PCOS because of dysfunctional ovulation.
2. Miscarriage or premature birth
3. Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and gestational diabetes
4. Sleep Apnea is a serious sleeping disorder where breathing stops abruptly while sleeping.
5. Since several hormones that play a role in emotional health are affected due to PCOS, thus they induce the risk of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
6. Abnormally severe bleeding during menses.
7. PCOS also includes insulin resistance, thus it also puts one at risk of type 2 diabetes.
8. Uterine lining Cancer is the result of collecting uterine lining over time that did not shed. A thickened uterine lining makes one prone to Uterine lining Cancer.
9. A chronic liver swelling from excessive accumulation in the liver can even worsen to liver failure
10. Metabolic syndrome is an umbrella term for several ailments like irregular cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels. These conditions all together put one at a high risk of heart disease.

When to see a doctor

• In case you keep having irregular periods, missed periods, or exaggerated periods for several months.
• If you miss your periods without being pregnant.
• You are experiencing unwanted hair growth on the face and body.
• You experience unexplained weight loss or symptoms of diabetes like blurred vision, way too much hunger, or thirst.
• If you trying to get pregnant when you already have been experiencing irregular periods, missed periods.

Do not use PCOS as a way of contraception, even though you might skip your periods that do not mean you cannot get pregnant with PCOS. Always use contraception to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

PCOS is a complex condition. A routine visit to your health care provider is important to monitor in case of any new symptoms of diabetes, or high blood pressure. So, they can be dealt with in consideration of PCOS.

Conclusion

This journey of fighting PCOS often gets exhaustive dealing with weight gain, painful periods, fluctuating emotional health, and skin issues like acne and unwanted hair growth can degrade confidence. We understand it’s difficult and sometimes you may feel hopeless. But there’s hope and a high chance you can stabilize your PCOS symptoms with some trial and error with changes in diet, medication and exercise.