Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a condition that affects close to 10% of the women in the world.
Women who suffer from this condition usually have many of the following findings:
Infertility - PCOS patients are sometimes able to get pregnant naturally, but many of them will have difficulty.
Obesity - PCOS patients generally have greater body mass than women without PCOS. However, it is not univeral. A few PCOS patients have normal or even extra lean body mass. Another general finding is that PCOS patients tend to gain their excess weight around the midsection (as opposed to the thighs or hips).
Excess Male Hormones - Women have low levels of male hormones, but women with PCOS have higher levels, leading to the possibility of facial hair, chest hair, acne, male-pattern hair thinning, oily skin and bloating.
Irregular or Inconsistent Menses - PCOS patients often do not ovulate every month. Some of them can go a whole year without a single ovulation or period.
High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease - Women with PCOS are generally more prone to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.
While there is no cure for PCOS, there are many available helpful interventions that can address the issues of infertility, irregular menses, obesity, excess male hormones and health risks.
In future posts, we'll look at the specific interventions that can help improve the quality of life for women suffering from PCOS.
Recent Comments