WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME

10% of American women are affected by polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, making this health condition more common than one may imagine. The cause of PCOS is not well understood and still a subject of debate.  Researchers believe that as many as half of all women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome don’t even know it, as women do not seek the care they need when their periods are irregular. Most women with PCOS do not ovulate on a regular basis. Therefore PCOS will increase a woman’s risk of infertility.  It is important to note that women with PCOS are more vulnerable to other health conditions. Here, we want to discuss a few key points that may help you obtain proper treatment sooner rather than later.

• PCOS has to do with an imbalance of your hormones. All women need a certain level of androgens. However, excessive amounts inhibit ovulation. Women with PCOS make excessive androgens.  The follicle that is responsible for releasing mature eggs each month does not achieve this task in women with PCOS. Rather, it sticks around in the ovary rather than be released. As you may know, a lack of ovulation means infertility. Additional consequences of too-high androgens include troublesome acne and body hair.
• Treating polycystic ovarian syndrome is important even if you are not trying to conceive. PCOS is concerning due to the potential for infertility, but there’s more. According to studies, living with polycystic ovarian syndrome and menstrual irregularities could increase the risk for acne, difficulty managing weight, depression, diabetes and uterine cancer.