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PCOS ( Polycystic ovary syndrome) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. Women with PCOS produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones. This hormone imbalance causes them to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to get pregnant. PCOS also causes hair growth on the face and body and baldness. And it can contribute to long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

👉🏻  PCOS affects a woman’s ovaries which in turn affects the regulation of menstrual cycle

👉🏻  Its three main features are:
▪cysts in the ovaries
▪high levels of male hormones
▪irregular or skipped periods

👉🏻  In PCOS, many small, fluid-filled sacs grow inside the ovaries.

👉🏻  These sacs are actually follicles, each one containing an immature egg. The eggs never mature enough to trigger ovulation.

👉🏻  The lack of ovulation alters levels of estrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH.

👉🏻  Extra male hormones disrupt the menstrual cycle, so women with PCOS get fewer periods than usual.

Causes

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes PCOS. They believe that high levels of male hormones prevent the ovaries from producing hormones and making eggs normally.
Genes, insulin resistance, and inflammation have all been linked to excess androgen production.

Common symptoms of PCOS

The most common PCOS symptoms are:
♦  Irregular periods.
♦  Heavy bleeding.
♦  Hair growth on face and body.
♦  Acne
♦  Weight gain
♦  Male-pattern baldness
♦  Darkening of the skin
♦  Headaches

When to see your doctor

Make it a point to see your doctor if
you’ve missed periods and you’re not pregnant.
You have symptoms of PCOS, such as hair growth on your face and body.
You’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than 12 months but haven’t been successful.
You have symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive thirst or hunger, blurred vision, or unexplained weight loss.

If you are diagnosed with PCOS, plan regular visits with your primary care doctor. You’ll need regular tests to check for diabetes, high blood pressure, and other possible complications.