Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome

PCOS or Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome is one of the most common endocrine disorders for women.  The endocrine system is a system of glands that secretes and regulates hormones in the body so PCOS will usually show up as a hormone imbalance.  Nobody knows what causes PCOS but most women with it have a close family member with it also.

PCOS affects every woman differently so there is no one test for all women nor are the treatments the same. Usually the symptoms are all treated separately from each other.

Here are some common symptoms:
Obesity
Absent or Irregular period
Infertility
Hirsutism (Hair on the face or body)
Hair loss or thinning of hair (male pattern baldness)
Insulin resistance
Skin tags
Darkened patches of skin, or "velvety" skin
High Cholesterol
High blood pressure
Depression
Pelvic pain
Anxiety
Sleep Apnea
Difficulty gaining weight
Type 2 Diabetes
Cysts on the ovaries
Heavy/abnormal periods
Repeat miscarriages
Acne
Oily skin or dandruff
Dry skin

This website is a great resource for finding out about diagnoses, treatment and your long term health with PCOS.

If you have PCOS please treat it.  Women with PCOS have an increased risk of having a heart attack (4-7 times higher than the average woman!). Also an increased risk of having high  blood pressure and cholesterol.  There is also an increased chance of getting different cancers, as well as developing anxiety, depression and sleep apnea.  All of these are SERIOUS and potentially life threatening.  Please take care of yourself.