Nope, I didn't. At least not before I was diagnosed with it this morning. A disease that only claims 5-10% of women in the United States of America.... Lucky friggin' me!
PCOS is a healthy problem that affects a woman's fertility, hormone production levels, insulin production, heart, blood vessels and appearance. No one knows the exact cause of PCOS, but most women diagnosed with it have a mother or sister also diagnosed with it. I am the minority there as well. Neither my mother nor my two sisters have PCOS.
Researchers are looking into the relationship between PCOS and the body's ability to make insulin, which is the hormone that regulates the change of sugar, starch, and other foods into energy for the body's use or for storage. Since most women with PCOS make too much insulin, it is possible that the ovaries react by making too many androgens, a male hormone. This can lead to the problems involing oily skin, acne, ovulation problems and weight gain primarily around the waistline.
Symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome are as follows:
1. infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, or irregular bleeding
2. infertility or inability to get pregnant - or frequent miscarriages
3. oily skin, unexplained acne, dandruff
4. inconsistent pelvic/abdominal pain
5. weight gain, primarily around the waistline, regardless of exercise or diet
6. type 2 diabetes
7. high blood pressure and high cholesterol
8. small patches of dark tan and/or brown skin on neck, arms, breasts and thighs
9. insomnia and/or sleep apnea - breathing stops at time while asleep
Women with PCOS are at a higher risk for developing several other more serious conditions. Irregular ovulation and the absence of ovulation causes a woman to produce the hormone estrogen, but not the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, the endometrium becomes thick which can cause heavy bleeding, and is dangerous for a woman's wellbeing. Eventually, this will lead to endometrial hyperplasia or cancer. Women with PCOS are also at a higher risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and heart disease.
If you have any or all of the symptoms listed above, please see your doctor for blood work pertaining to the diagnosis of PCOS. There is no cure. But there are treatments needed to manage the disease and prevent future problems from occuring. Getting the symptoms under control at an early age might help reduce future risks and problems.
