What Might Be Behind My Infertility?
You and your partner want to build a family, but you’ve been struggling to conceive. Here, we look at some of the many factors that can influence fertility and what your next steps should include.
6 Signs of PCOS Every Woman Should Know
Women have their own set of health concerns thanks to their reproductive health, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is certainly a leading one. PCOS affects about 10% of reproductive-aged women around the world and here in the United States, too.
Given the high prevalence of PCOS, it’s important to have some basic understanding of the condition and its symptoms if you’re between the ages of 15 and 45. Since September is PCOS Awareness Month in the US, the all-female team of skilled and experienced providers here at Beyond Women’s Care shares some of these symptoms here.
PCOS at a glance
Before we get into symptoms, we want to quickly describe what occurs with PCOS. Despite the inclusion of cysts in the name, PCOS is a metabolic issue at its core. More specifically, PCOS occurs when your ovaries produce excess androgen hormones, which are associated with more male characteristics.
As a result of this excess androgen, you can develop ovulation disorders in which your ovaries fail to release eggs or they release immature eggs that never get out of the follicle, causing cysts to form. These cysts, however, aren't obvious signs of PCOS, and we usually only discover them through an ultrasound.
The metabolic side of the equation, however, does lead to more obvious side effects. For background, any time the word syndrome is present, it means that there’s a range of symptoms, sometimes seemingly disconnected, which is true of PCOS. Let’s take a look.
1. Infertility
We’ve already discussed ovulation issues with PCOS, so it should come as no surprise that PCOS can lead to fertility issues. PCOS is the principal cause of infertility in women.
2. Abnormal menstrual cycles
If your periods are irregular, nonexistent, or you experience abnormal bleeding (from heavy bleeding to light bleeding), this is a common sign of PCOS.
3. Body and facial hair
Thanks to the excess androgen hormones, women with PCOS often develop body and facial hair, a condition called hirsutism, which affects seven out of 10 women with PCOS. This hair tends to develop on your chest, thighs, face, and stomach.
4. Obesity
PCOS is closely linked to insulin resistance and obesity — as many as 80% of women with PCOS have obesity.
5. Acne
Another common sign of PCOS is severe acne, which can be traced back to the excess androgen hormones. This acne can strike your face, as well as other parts of your body.
6. Dark patches of skin
Women with PCOS often develop a condition we call acanthosis nigricans, which is defined by patches of dark, smooth skin that are typically found in natural creases in your skin, such as around your neck.
As you can see, PCOS can certainly cast a wide net over your health and your body, which is why you should come see us if you can check more than one of the boxes above. Thanks to our experience, we can see a pattern in unrelated symptoms, allowing us to connect the dots to PCOS.
For expert diagnosis and treatment of PCOS, please call our Rochester Hills, Michigan, office at 248-284-4859. You can also contact us through our website to request more information or an appointment.
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