Warning... If you do not like read about girly parts, blood and things of that nature please exit the blog 😉. Before getting into the facts about what PCOS is, let me just tell you a little facts about myself. When I was pregnant and was having a lot of different issues in my pregnancy starting with my hormone levels, to bleeding at a lot of different points in my pregnancy, to high blood pressure to ending up with preeclampsia, to finding out I had poly-cystic cyst that the doctors swore to me would go away on it's on, I knew something wasn't right. After the birth of my son, my menstrual was never the same, sometimes I got my menstrual and sometimes it wouldn't come for months. When it did come the longest it lasted was a two months and I bled so bad that I became anemic. During that time test was done on me and I kept getting the run around about what need to happen versus what was going on. Two years ago I found another doctor and began the testing again and I found out I had PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and of course I had no idea what it was except that it was something that was causing problems in my everyday life. Mostly all of the symptoms listed below I had and it is no fun living with this. A lot of people do not know about this and the fact of how many women actually suffers from it. I chose to do this blog because it represents me, as well as some of my sorority sisters, and I had a chance to give my voice on it and to educate other women. Last year (14 1/2 years after having my son), I finally found the right doctor for me. This doctor took care of me and looked into everything that was happening to me as I had been bleeding since the beginning of August 2019 and when I met my doctor it was toward the end of September and I was still bleeding. She did all kinds of test and procedures to try to stop the bleeding and find out what else was causing it. I had Fibroids as well as PCOS so this contributed also to the pains and the excessive bleeding. Throughout the different procedures I underwent I was still in a lot of pain and still bleeding. This year in the end of May I had a hysterectomy as this was at this point, the only option. Of course like any woman would, I had reservations about it but I knew I wanted the pain and consistently being sick and fatigued to go away. Good thing I had the hysterectomy becaause during the surgery it was made aware that I not only had PCOS and Fibroids but I also had stage 4 endometriosis.
So yes I wear teal for me and my sisters because I fought and they will continue to fight.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic (pah-lee-SIS-tik) ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine system disorder impacting hormone production in women, often causing irregular menstrual cycles. It disrupts fertility health for these women in many ways! Why PCOS happens is still somewhat of a mystery. It could be a genetic condition, yet is believed to be a result of hormonal imbalance and the body’s inability to properly regulate insulin, which is made worse by poor diet, excess body fat, and an inactive lifestyle. Each woman with PCOS presents differently, beyond irregular cycles, many often experiences any combination of symptoms: anovulation, excess male-patterned hair growth, thinning hair or hair loss, acne, has multiple cysts on her ovaries, may be overweight or obese, yet may be thin, insulin resistance, and this list could probably go on.
With PCOS, women typically have:
- High levels of androgens (AN-druh-junz). These are sometimes called male hormones, though females also make them.
- Missed or irregular periods (monthly bleeding)
- Many small cysts (sists) (fluid-filled sacs) in their ovaries
What is the cause of PCOS?
The cause of PCOS is unknown. But most experts think that several factors, including genetics, could play a role. Women with PCOS are more likely to have a mother or sister with PCOS.
A main underlying problem with PCOS is a hormonal imbalance. In women with PCOS, the ovaries make more androgens than normal. Androgens are male hormones that females also make. High levels of these hormones affect the development and release of eggs during ovulation.
Researchers also think insulin may be linked to PCOS. Insulin is a hormone that controls the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy for the body to use or store. Many women with PCOS have too much insulin in their bodies because they have problems using it. Excess insulin appears to increase production of androgen. High androgen levels can lead to:
- Acne
- Excessive hair growth
- Weight gain
- Problems with ovulation
- Infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating. In fact, PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility
- Infrequent, absent, and/or irregular menstrual periods
- Hirsutism (HER-suh-tiz-um) — increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
- Cysts on the ovaries
- Acne, oily skin, or dandruff
- Weight gain or obesity, usually with extra weight around the waist
- Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
- Patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black
- Skin tags — excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
- Pelvic pain
- Anxiety or depression
- Sleep apnea — when breathing stops for short periods of time while asleep
How can you get tested?
There is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Your doctor will take the following steps to find out if you have PCOS or if something else is causing your symptoms.
- Medical history. Your doctor will ask about your menstrual periods, weight changes, and other symptoms.
- Physical exam. Your doctor will want to measure your blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and waist size. He or she also will check the areas of increased hair growth. You should try to allow the natural hair to grow for a few days before the visit.
- Pelvic exam. Your doctor might want to check to see if your ovaries are enlarged or swollen by the increased number of small cysts.
- Blood tests. Your doctor may check the androgen hormone and glucose (sugar) levels in your blood.
- Vaginal ultrasound (sonogram). Your doctor may perform a test that uses sound waves to take pictures of the pelvic area. It might be used to examine your ovaries for cysts and check the endometrium (en-do-MEE-tree-uhm) (lining of the womb). This lining may become thicker if your periods are not regular.
What are some risks with having PCOS?
Women with PCOS have greater chances of developing several serious health conditions, including life-threatening diseases. Recent studies found that:
- More than 50 percent of women with PCOS will have diabetes or pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) before the age of 40.
- The risk of heart attack is 4 to 7 times higher in women with PCOS than women of the same age without PCOS.
- Women with PCOS are at greater risk of having high blood pressure.
- Women with PCOS have high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.
- Women with PCOS can develop sleep apnea. This is when breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep.
Women with PCOS may also develop anxiety and depression. It is important to talk to your doctor about treatment for these mental health conditions.
Women with PCOS are also at risk for endometrial cancer. Irregular menstrual periods and the lack of ovulation cause women to produce the hormone estrogen, but not the hormone progesterone. Progesterone causes the endometrium (lining of the womb) to shed each month as a menstrual period. Without progesterone, the endometrium becomes thick, which can cause heavy or irregular bleeding. Over time, this can lead to endometrial hyperplasia, when the lining grows too much, and cancer.
Get educated and get informed.
Cassie D. Shaw MD
aka Big Sister On Point
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