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When you were young, you might\u2019ve been prepared for some of the hormonal changes your body would experience throughout your life. It all started with puberty and then your first period. Then you can expect even more changes if you get pregnant. And lastly, the changes that often come as you get closer to menopause \u2013 goodbye periods, hello hot flashes.<\/p>\n
But what if you start noticing changes in between these big milestones? Irregular periods, trouble getting pregnant, suddenly gaining weight<\/a> without making changes to your diet or activity levels, and hair growing in places you\u2019re not used to are just some symptoms that could be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.<\/p>\n Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of PCOS. We\u2019ll also talk about risk factors, how it affects the body, how to get diagnosed and treatment options.<\/p>\n Polycystic ovary syndrome is a medical condition caused by a hormonal imbalance in the ovaries. It happens when ovaries produce an abnormal amount of male sex hormones, or androgens. Typically, women only have a small amount of androgens, and the excess can lead to reproductive issues.<\/p>\n Ovulation \u2013 when an ovary releases an egg \u2013 happens once during each menstrual cycle. But your body needs to make enough female sex hormones, like progesterone and estrogen, to ovulate. So when your body doesn\u2019t make enough of these hormones, ovulation may not happen at all or only occasionally.<\/p>\n When ovulation doesn\u2019t occur, cysts (air or fluid-filled sacs) can grow on the ovaries. These cysts make androgens and are the reason women with polycystic ovary syndrome often have high androgen levels. And while some women with PCOS do develop cysts, not all women do. There could also be an abundance of abnormal follicles in the ovaries that contribute to PCOS. The hormonal imbalance is tied to several other symptoms of the condition, which we\u2019ll talk more about below.<\/p>\n The condition is more common than many people may realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it affects around 6-12% of reproductive-age women in the United States \u2013 that\u2019s around 5 million people. And while it\u2019s believed that women are born with the condition, the symptoms usually start during puberty and may persist until or after menopause.<\/p>\n The earliest signs of polycystic ovary syndrome may seem normal or unrelated to each other. That\u2019s because it may be easy for some people to explain away acne, weight gain or excessive hair growth in unusual areas. Occasional missed or irregular periods might not raise a red flag if it\u2019s happened before or if you\u2019re a little more stressed than usual.<\/p>\n So when looked at separately, symptoms can seem normal. But together, they may be first signs of PCOS.<\/p>\n One of the most common symptoms of PCOS is an irregular menstrual cycle<\/a>. As we mentioned earlier, women with PCOS often have higher than normal androgen levels. These hormones, like testosterone, can interfere with their cycle and stop their body from ovulating.<\/p>\n The hormone imbalance can stop the egg from either maturing or being released. And without ovulation, the uterus doesn\u2019t get the trigger it needs to shed its lining (have a period). Some people with PCOS can have regular periods and ovulate occasionally, but others may have periods every 4-5 weeks or none at all.<\/p>\n PCOS can lead to enlarged ovaries or ovaries that have many cysts. In your ovaries, there are thousands of follicles. In each follicle is an egg, and when the egg matures, the follicle breaks open and the egg is released for fertilization. When the follicle doesn\u2019t release the egg, it can grow and turn into a cyst. Generally, follicular cysts don\u2019t cause pain, but these cysts can cause the ovaries to swell, especially if there are many of them.<\/p>\n If small cysts in the ovaries develop as part of your PCOS, it\u2019s possible that these cysts could break open, become very large or disrupt blood flow to the ovaries, causing stomach pain.<\/p>\n Hirsutism is a condition where women experience excessive hair growth in areas that are associated with male-pattern hair growth. For example, hair may grow on the face, back, chest (especially around the nipples), abdomen and thighs. This hair is medically described as terminal and is the type of hair you\u2019d find on your scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes.<\/p>\n After puberty, it\u2019s common for women to experience terminal hair growth in the armpits and pubic area. Although women naturally produce male hormones, the excess that comes with PCOS can cause these coarse, dark hairs to grow in areas where fine hairs are typically found.<\/p>\n Many women who have PCOS tend to put on weight easily and have difficulty getting rid of it. That\u2019s because PCOS affects the way your body uses insulin. Insulin is responsible for controlling blood sugar, and PCOS can cause your body to develop insulin resistance. This stops your body from responding to insulin, sending a signal to your pancreas to produce even more insulin. Your body then takes the extra insulin and blood sugar and stores it in the body as fat, typically in the abdomen. This cycle is what leads to weight gain.<\/p>\n Insulin is also an appetite stimulant. High levels of this hormone can increase hunger and cravings, causing some people with PCOS to overeat or consume more calories than they need. It also can lead to medical problems, like insulin resistance and diabetes.<\/p>\n PCOS can lead to symptoms that affect your skin, such as:<\/p>\n High levels of androgens, like testosterone, affect hair growth. Androgenic alopecia is a symptom of PCOS that causes women to experience hair loss<\/a>. It\u2019s often characterized by hair loss around the temples and frontal areas of the scalp. Instead of baldness, female pattern hair loss typically leads to thinner, shorter hair.<\/p>\n PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility<\/a>. If you\u2019re under 35 years old, infertility means not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying. If you\u2019re 35 or older, this time is shortened to six months. As we mentioned earlier, when excess androgens interfere with your menstrual cycle, it prevents your body from regular ovulation. If your body doesn\u2019t go through normal ovulation, it becomes harder to get pregnant. But it\u2019s important to know that pregnancy is still possible.<\/p>\n While we know that PCOS stems from a hormonal imbalance, doctors and researchers have yet to uncover what causes the imbalance. But there are a few factors that might play a role:<\/p>\n While PCOS has many specific symptoms, it can lead to other chronic health conditions. Women with PCOS are more likely to experience or develop:<\/p>\n A primary care doctor or a women\u2019s health specialist like an OB-GYN \u2013 a medical doctor or clinician who specializes in female reproductive health \u2013 can diagnose PCOS. The process usually begins with a conversation. Your doctor will start with your symptoms and medical history before moving on to a physical exam, which will likely include a pelvic exam.<\/p>\n Doctors often look for three symptoms for diagnosis: irregular periods, excess androgens and polycystic ovaries. Two out of three of these symptoms are typically needed for a positive diagnosis. And because a physical exam can\u2019t confirm the presence of abnormal androgen levels or polycystic ovaries, doctors may use additional tests, such as ultrasounds and blood tests.<\/p>\n Your doctor may use an ultrasound to confirm a PCOS diagnosis. This test uses soundwaves and echoes to take pictures of your reproductive organs, or in this case, your ovaries. With an ultrasound, your doctor can look at the size of your ovaries and see if there is a high number of small follicles in your ovaries (polycystic ovaries).<\/p>\n Doctors use blood tests to check for high levels of hormones. This can tell them if your body is producing higher than normal androgens. They can also use a blood test to check your blood glucose levels as well as your cholesterol, both of which can be signs of PCOS. Blood tests also rule out other conditions that can mimic some of the features of PCOS.<\/p>\n PCOS is a chronic condition that has no cure, and it can show up as any assortment of symptoms. Fortunately, there are many PCOS treatment options available to manage symptoms and help people reach their pregnancy goals.<\/p>\n PCOS affects each person in different ways, but your doctor can help you find a treatment plan that works best for your needs. Similar to other reproductive conditions like endometriosis<\/a>, treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome often depends on your pregnancy plans.<\/p>\nWhat is polycystic ovary syndrome?<\/h2>\n
What happens when someone has PCOS<\/h3>\n
How common is PCOS?<\/h3>\n
Symptoms of PCOS to look for<\/h2>\n
Irregular menstrual cycle<\/h3>\n
Ovarian problems<\/h3>\n
Stomach pain<\/h3>\n
Hirsutism<\/h3>\n
Weight gain <\/h3>\n
Skin issues <\/h3>\n
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Thinning hair<\/h3>\n
Infertility<\/h3>\n
Causes of PCOS aren\u2019t yet known<\/h2>\n
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How PCOS affects the body<\/h2>\n
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How PCOS is diagnosed<\/h2>\n
Ultrasound<\/h3>\n
Blood tests<\/h3>\n
Does PCOS go away on its own?<\/h2>\n