Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) May lead to infertility in women
What exactly is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects women during their reproductive years (ages 15 to 44). Many women have PCOS but are unaware of it.
According to one study, up to 70% of women with PCOS had not been diagnosed. PCOS affects a woman’s ovaries, which produce estrogen and progesterone — hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. The ovaries also produce androgens, which are male hormones.
The ovaries produce eggs, which are fertilized by a man’s sperm. Ovulation is the monthly release of an egg. The pituitary gland produces luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). A mature egg is released from the ovary after it has been stimulated by FSH to develop a follicle, a bag that holds an egg.
A “syndrome,” or collection of symptoms, known as PCOS affects the ovaries and ovulation.
The following three characteristics define PCOS
- An ovarian cyst,
- a lot of male hormones,
- irregular or missing periods.
Small, fluid-filled sacs proliferate inside the ovaries as a result of PCOS. “Polycystic” simply means “multiple cysts.” These sacs are follicles, and inside each one is an immature egg. The eggs are never developed enough to cause ovulation; as a result, estrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH levels are changed since ovulation is absent. Progesterone levels fall below average, whereas androgen levels rise above average.
Women with PCOS experience fewer periods than usual because excess male hormones interfere with the menstrual cycle.
PCOS is not a recent illness. In 1721, the Italian physician Antonio Vallisneri wrote the first description of its signs.
Read Also about How to manage PCOS by modifying your diet
What causes PCOS
PCOS makes most women anxious
The precise cause of PCOS is unknown to medical professionals. They contend that excessive quantities of male hormones inhibit the ovaries from releasing hormones and ovulating correctly. Genes, insulin resistance, polycystic ovaries, and inflammation have all been connected to increased androgen production.
Genes
According to research, PCOS runs in families. Insulin resistance is most likely caused by a combination of genes, not just one. Up to 70% of women with PCOS, which means their cells can’t properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to assist the body in using sugar from energy foods.
When cells are unable to properly use insulin, the body’s demand for insulin rises. To compensate, the pancreas produces more insulin. Extra insulin stimulates the ovaries to make more male hormones. Obesity is a major contributor to insulin resistance. Obesity and insulin resistance can both increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Inflammation
Inflammation refers to the process whereby white blood cells produce substances to fight infection. According to studies, women with PCOS experience a specific kind of low-grade inflammation that prompts the polycystic ovaries to create androgens, which can cause issues with the heart and blood vessels.
Inflammation can be triggered by being overweight.
Read about Healthy ways to lose weight in 3 weeks as well.
Polycyclic ovaries
It’s possible for your ovaries, which have follicles around the eggs, to be enlarged. Ovaries may consequently stop working frequently as a result.
PCOS common symptoms
Some women begin to experience symptoms right before the beginning of their period. Others don’t find out they have PCOS until they’ve put on a lot of weight or struggled to conceive.
The most typical signs of PCOS are:
- Irregular periods.
The uterine lining cannot shed every month if there is no ovulation. Some PCOS patients get fewer than eight cycles or no periods at all. For instance, you might go longer than 35 days between periods, have excessively heavy periods, or have less than nine periods per year.
- Severe bleeding.
Your periods may be heavier than usual since the uterine lining continues to thicken up for a longer period.
- Development of hair
More than 70% of affected women develop hair on their face, body, and breast, as well as on their back, abdomen, and chest. We refer to excessive hair growth as hirsutism.
- Acne.
The face, chest, and upper back may get breakouts as a result of male hormones making the skin oilier than usual in these places.
- Weight increase
Overweight or obese conditions affect up to 80% of PCOS-afflicted women.
- Hair loss typically among men.
Scalp hair may thin out and fall out as a result.
- The skin becomes darker.
Body creases such as those on the neck, groin, and armpits can develop dark patches of skin.
For some women, hormonal changes might cause headaches
