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PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a menstrual condition that affects 1 in 10 women in the world. Despite how common it is, most women with PCOS go undiagnosed during their lifetimes. At Hormone University, we seek to change that by utilizing the most powerful tool we have: education.
Keep reading to find out some signs that you might have PCOS!
Causes
While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, it has been generally attributed to hormonal imbalance with an increase in androgen levels. The higher proportion of male hormones in the body can disrupt your menstrual cycle or impact your fertility. Insulin resistance, inflammation, and genetic predisposition are all other common factors that might influence whether you have PCOS or not.
Symptoms
The severity of PCOS symptoms can vary from person to person and some women may not even know they have PCOS unless they face infertility. However, here are some common symptoms that may indicate you suffer from this condition.
Irregular periods
Hormonal imbalance can prevent you from ovulating regularly, and without consistent ovulation, hormone levels don’t always indicate when it is time to shed the uterine lining, thus resulting in irregular periods. Because the uterine lining may grow thicker as a result of a longer period of time, many women with PCOS have a heavy flow as well.
Hair Growth
The increase in male hormones such as testosterone can result in excess facial hair growth, leading to hirsutism. Hair loss is also a common symptom of PCOS, and these hormones might create oilier skin and lead to increased acne on the face and back.
Weight Gain
Many women with PCOS experience weight gain, and up to 80% with the condition are overweight or obese. Oftentimes, this weight gain is caused by insulin resistance, so making lifestyle changes such as having a healthier diet and exercise routine can help manage such symptoms.
Throughout the week, we will be discussing more about the 4 types of PCOS, how to treat them, and their connection to infertility. Stay tuned!
Hormone University was created as an educational platform with the mission to improve hormone health through accessible knowledge and to advocate for social impact in our communities.
You’re not alone.
80% of the adult female population has experienced hormonal imbalance at one point in their life that affected not only their physical health but also their mental health. Coping with pain, infertility, anxiety, depression, body image issues, and, on top of this, judgment is the heavy load most of these women have to bear each day and an important problem we need to tackle as a society.
