The exact cause of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unknown, but it’s thought to be related to abnormal hormone levels.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a problem in which a woman has an imbalance of female sex hormones. It can cause irregular or delayed periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS may also cause unwanted changes in the way you look. If it is not treated, it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease over time.
PCOS is common, affecting as many as 1 out of 15 women. Often the symptoms begin in the teen years. Treatment can help control the symptoms and prevent long-term problems. The incidence of PCOS appears to be rising or perhaps it is now being diagnosed more often. It is seen in as many as 25–30% of young women. In young girls, the symptoms are mainly cosmetic as they get disturbed by the acne, weight gain, and facial hair. In married women, PCOS often manifests as the inability to conceive. In this condition, the ovulation may not occur regularly, and as the egg does not come out each month, the chance of pregnancy are also low. It can be treated by medicines that cause the patient to ovulate and she may become pregnant. The doctor may often prescribe drugs that are used in diabetic patients, as these drugs are insulin sensitizers and improve insulin insensitivity which is the main cause behind PCOS. So a malfunction of the body’s blood sugar control system (insulin system) is frequent in women with PCOS who often have insulin resistance and elevated blood insulin levels (Hyperinsulinemia). The root cause of PCOS is insulin resistance.
Hormones are chemical messengers that trigger many different processes, including growth and energy production. Often, the job of one hormone is to signal the release of another hormone.
For reasons that are not well understood, in PCOS, the hormones get out of balance. One hormone change triggers another, which changes another. For example: The ovaries make a tiny amount of male sex hormones (androgens). In PCOS, they start producing slightly more androgens. This may cause them to stop ovulating, get acne, and grow extra facial and body hair.
The body may have a problem using insulin, called insulin resistance. When the body doesn’t use insulin well, blood sugar levels go up. Over time, this increases your chances of getting diabetes.
The symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) usually become apparent in your teens or early twenties. Not all women with PCOS have all of the symptoms. Each symptom can vary from mild to severe. In many women, the only symptoms are menstrual problems or a failure to conceive.
The exact cause of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unknown, but it’s thought to be related to abnormal hormone levels.
High levels of insulin cause the ovaries to produce too much testosterone hormone, which interferes with the development of the follicles (the sacs in the ovaries where eggs develop) and prevents normal ovulation.
Insulin resistance can also lead to weight gain and having excess fat causes the body to produce even more insulin.
Many women with PCOS are found to have an imbalance in certain hormones, including:
➲ Raised levels of testosterone – a hormone often thought of as a male hormone, although all women normally produce small amount of it.
➲ Raised levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) – a hormone that stimulates ovulation, but may have an abnormal effect on the ovaries if levels are too high.
➲ Low levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) – a hormone that helps reduce the effect of testosterone.
➲ Raised levels of prolactin (only in some women with PCOS) – a hormone that stimulates the breast glands to produce milk in pregnancy.
PCOS sometimes runs in families. If any relatives, such as your mother, sister or aunt, have PCOS then the risk of you developing it is often increased.
Sometimes it is difficult to detect PCOS due to its confusing and unclear symptoms. These questions will help you find out whether you are suffering from PCOS or not.
➲ Are you getting overweight?
➲ Are you carrying excessive fat around your belly?
➲ Are your periods irregular?
➲ Do you menstruate less than 9 times a year?
➲ Do you have to take artificial hormones to bring on your periods?
➲ Are you not able to conceive for more than 6 months?
➲ Do you suffer from abnormal hair growth around chin, neck or chest area?
➲ Do you often have acne/breakouts?
➲ Are you facing the concern of discolored or darker skin?
➲ Do you feel depressed/ moody often?
If you think your answer is YES to most of the questions, there is high probability that you have PCOS
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