Understanding PCOS: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome? (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects the ovaries. Women with PCOS have high levels of androgens, which are male hormones that can cause acne, facial hair growth and weight gain. They also have higher levels of LH and FSH, two hormones that signal the ovaries to release an egg during each menstrual cycle. This can lead to irregular periods or no period at all.

The exact cause of PCOS isn't known but researchers believe it may be due to a combination of genetics and environmental factors such as diet or stress levels

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of PCOS?

PCOS is a common condition that affects women of reproductive age. The signs and symptoms of PCOS are:

• Infertility - You may have difficulty getting pregnant, or you may have trouble staying pregnant.

• Irregular periods - Your period might be irregular or nonexistent, which can make it difficult to know when you're fertile and likely to get pregnant. If you're not having regular periods but have been trying to conceive for a year or more without success, talk with your doctor about other causes of infertility before moving forward with any treatment plans.

• Hirsutism (excess hair growth) - In addition to normal amounts of body hair on arms and legs, some people with PCOS grow excess facial hair (on the chin or upper lip), chest hair under breasts, back hair at shoulder blades; even pubic baldness has been reported in some cases! Excessive body weight gain related directly to increased caloric intake while exercising less than usual due to fatigue caused by hormone imbalances experienced by those who suffer from this condition also contributes significantly towards furthering these symptoms' severity over time."

What Causes PCOS

While the cause of PCOS is not known, there are several factors that may contribute to it. These include genetics, insulin resistance and high levels of androgens (male hormones).

When you eat foods with carbohydrates, your pancreas releases insulin to help your body use glucose for energy. If you have PCOS, your body produces higher-than-normal levels of insulin in response to eating food or taking oral medications such as steroids or birth control pills. The increased amount of insulin causes your ovaries to produce extra male hormones called androgens which can lead to irregular menstrual periods or no periods at all.

In addition to these hormonal changes, researchers believe that women who develop PCOS may also have problems with their metabolism because they don't make enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), which helps regulate metabolism through chemical reactions within cells throughout the body including those in our brains!

How Does PCOS Affect Your Body?

PCOS can cause irregular periods, infertility and excess hair growth.

• Irregular periods: A woman with PCOS may experience infrequent or absent menstrual periods. If you have irregular periods, it's important to see your doctor for evaluation because this can be a sign of other health problems like diabetes or thyroid disease.

• Infertility: Some women with PCOS find it difficult or impossible to get pregnant due to ovulation problems caused by the condition. In fact, one out of every five women with PCOS has difficulty getting pregnant (infertility).

• Excess hair growth: Women with this condition often develop excess facial and body hair (hirsutism) as well as male pattern baldness on their scalps -- both conditions that are associated with high levels of male hormones called androgens in both men and women alike! Hirsutism is caused by increased production of certain hormones called "androgens" which stimulate hair growth on parts where there should not normally be any at all - such as face/chest area etcetera...

How Can You Treat PCOS?

There are many ways to treat PCOS. Some treatments are lifestyle changes and others include medications or surgery. Here are some examples:

• Lifestyle changes: Eating a healthy diet can help with PCOS, as well as exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes per day).

• Medications: Metformin is a type of medication that may be prescribed by your doctor if you have diabetes or insulin resistance caused by PCOS. It helps lower blood sugar levels, which can reduce symptoms such as excess hair growth on your face or body (called hirsutism), acne, weight gain and fatigue associated with having this condition.* Surgery options include laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) and hysterectomy (removal of uterus).

For Women Who Suffer From Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, There Are Many Treatment Options Available

If you have PCOS, there are many treatment options available to help manage the condition. Lifestyle changes can be made to improve symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term health consequences. These include weight loss, exercise, and diet adjustments. Medications may also be prescribed for some women with PCOS who do not respond to lifestyle interventions or experience significant bothersome symptoms (such as acne). The most common medications include:

• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) that contain both estrogen and progestin (synthetic versions of the hormones produced naturally by a woman's body) can help regulate menstrual cycles by preventing ovulation from occurring regularly; they also decrease levels of testosterone in the body. While these drugs do not cure polycystic ovaries or prevent new cysts from forming over time, they do make periods more regular and less painful while reducing other symptoms such as excess hair growth on face/body parts like chin area called hirsutism which causes excess facial hair growth especially during puberty stage when hormones change rapidly; oily skin due to increased production by sebaceous glands located under skin surface layer called keratinization process resulting in excessive secretion during puberty stage too!

Conclusion

If you or someone you know suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it is important to understand the condition and its treatment options. PCOS can lead to many different symptoms, including fertility issues, weight gain and loss, acne flare-ups, hair loss on the head or body.