Hormonal imbalances and PCOD

What is PCOS?

PCOS, as the name suggests refers to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The word “polycystic” refers to many cysts. It occurs when the ovaries create excess hormones. It is a hormone imbalance. If a person is detected with PCOS, her ovaries create androgen (hormone) in excess. As a result, there is an imbalance in reproductive hormones. This affects 1 in 10 people in their reproductive years.

Worldwide, the prevalence of PCOS ranges from 2.2% to 26%. According to studies conducted in South India and Maharashtra, the prevalence of PCOS (according to Rotterdam’s criteria) was 9.13% and 22.5%, respectively (10.7% according to Androgen Excess Society standards).

What may cause PCOS?

Ovulation is a biological process that occurs before your period cycle. In some cases, a woman’s body doesn’t create enough hormones to ovulate. When the process of ovulation does not happen, ovaries tend to make numerous small cysts. These cysts create the hormone called androgen in the woman’s body. Women having PCOS generally have high levels of androgen. However, some doctors believe that poor choices of lifestyle, and bad eating habits can lead to this.

Women having PCOS develop Insulin Resistance in their bodies. It means that their body cannot efficiently use insulin. And, when insulin levels build up in the body, it can cause higher androgen levels. There are some other reasons for it like Genes and inflammation has also been linked to excess androgen production.

The excess androgens responsible for clinical manifestations are believed to have unknown exact origins. The fact that it may run in families suggests that there may be some hereditary component. Also, some suggestions include the synthesis of androgens being enhanced by an excess of insulin (caused by insulin resistance) or the ovaries experiencing low-grade inflammation.

PCOS vs PCOD

At what age Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is diagnosed?

PCOS is a common health problem detected in teen girls and young women. It can be detected in your teenage years soon after you started your periods like 14-15 but a majority of women find out about PCOS in their twenties when they are having trouble with their periods or trying to get pregnant. There is no specific age at which this can be diagnosed. After puberty, this can be diagnosed.

  Symptoms:

• Inconsistent cycles, missed periods, or unusually light cycles
• Massive ovaries or ovaries with numerous cysts
• A lot of body hair, particularly on the back, stomach, and chest
• Gaining weight, especially around the abdomen
• Greasy skin or acne
• Thinning hair or baldness with a masculine pattern
• Infertility
• Small bits of loose skin around the neck or under the arms 
• Spots of thick or black skin on the back of the neck, under the armpits, and beneath the breasts.

After-effects of PCOS

This affects the human body in different ways:

• Infertility: This is one of the major concerns for Women who have PCOS as they don’t ovulate regularly in their cycle, thus not releasing many eggs for fertilization to take place.
• Metabolism: According to the studies, 80% of the women having PCOS are overweight. Obesity and PCOS both together can both increase the risk for high blood pressure, high sugar levels, high “bad” cholesterol, and low “good” cholesterol. These factors together contribute to metabolic syndrome. 
• Sleep apnea: It refers to repeated pauses in breathing at night which results in the interruption of sleep.
• Endometrial cancer: Women who have PCOS, do not ovulate regularly. During ovulation, the uterine lining sheds. Irregular ovulation results in the thickening of the uterine wall, thus increasing the risk of endometrial cancer.
• Type-2 diabetes: Women with PCOS are at a higher risk for type-2 diabetes.
• Depression

PCOS and Menstrual cycles

Women having PCOS have irregular periods and they experience painful cramps, severe backaches, heavy periods, and extremely large or small cycles. Medications prescribed by doctors are successful in such scenarios.

Can PCOS exist without any symptoms?

Indeed, PCOS can exist without any obvious symptoms. Many women don’t even recognize they have this syndrome until they experience difficulties in becoming pregnant or start accumulating weight for unexplained reasons. There’s also a chance that you have minimal Syndrome, in which case your symptoms won’t be noticeable.

How is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome diagnosed?

Ultrasound or blood tests can help detect PCOS. A blood test will detect androgen and other hormone levels in the body but generally, a girl doesn’t go to the doctor’s office directly to get the diagnosis. There could be many reasons for a doctor’s visit like missed periods, experiencing symptoms of PCOS, and unsuccessful pregnancy.

Treatment for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Every human body is different. The severity of symptoms is different in each female body. The type of treatment depends on the severity. You need a lot of patience to deal with it. Some of the general treatment options which can be followed are:

• A change in diet and physical activity in the form of the gym, yoga, running, and Zumba.
• If the person is diabetic, diabetes medication reduces insulin resistance in PCOS. The medication may also help in reducing androgen levels in the body, and slowing hair growth.