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5 Signs That You May Have PCOS by Dr. Jessica Geil, ND

September 25, 2017 Leave a Comment

Do you ever wonder if something isn’t quite right with your hormones? Maybe your periods

have been irregular for so long that you now just consider them to be your “norm”. That’s

fair, but what about those other strange symptoms that seem to have appeared out of the

blue? If you have a hunch that something is off, you are probably right. Could it be due to

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

 

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal condition among

women of reproductive age. It affects roughly 1 in every 10 women, yet approximately 50%

don’t even know that they have it. PCOS develops when two main areas of our physiology

go awry. The brain normally sends out a series of hormones that in turn tell our reproductive

organs what to do. Women with PCOS release more of a certain hormone relative to

another, resulting in a significant imbalance that causes a disconnect between the brain and

the ovary. The second process that often (but not always) occurs is the development of

insulin resistance, such that the body is unable to respond appropriately to the effects of

insulin as others would. Both of these factors lead to elevated levels of a group of hormones

called androgens. Androgens, in excess, can wreak havoc on the menstrual cycle by

causing the follicles that house your eggs to arrest in their development. When this occurs,

the ovaries develop a collection of small “cysts” that are essentially eggs that have not

matured properly. This can create problems with ovulation itself and may lead to further

imbalances in your levels of estrogen and progesterone.

 

Seeing that September is PCOS Awareness Month, there is no better time to familiarize

yourself with the symptoms so that you can seek care if you need it. Below are the top 5

symptoms that may suggest that you have PCOS.

woman with flower

  1. Wonky periods.

    If your cycles are of an unpredictable length or you can’t even remember the last time you

    had a period, PCOS could be to blame. The reason for such change lies in the way that the

    increased levels of circulating androgens prevent a mature egg from being ovulated. Often

    women with PCOS have cycles that are very infrequent (longer than 35 days apart) or not at

    all. When they do have a period it is usually a result of breakthrough bleeding, which occurs

    when the endometrial lining has proliferated to the point where it can’t be sustained any

    longer without adequate progesterone. Ovulation is one of the ways in which progesterone

    is made, but if this process is not occurring then estrogen is free to work unopposed,

    leading to heavy and painful bleeds that aren’t “true” cycles. This is most common

    presentation, however, it can get far more complex than this when different hormones

    (including thyroid hormones) interact in various ways.

  2. Skin changes.

    Hormones are powerful chemicals! In the right balance they can do so much good, but

    when slightly out of proportion your skin is often one of the first places to suffer. Patients

    with PCOS commonly present with moderate to severe acne, particularly along the jawline.

    The reason for this occurrence is due to the excess androgens that are produced.

    Androgens overstimulate the oil glands in your skin by increasing the production of sebum.

    When this occurs, pores get clogged more easily and bacteria are able to thrive, often

    resulting in inflamed, painful, and cystic lesions on the skin. Patients may also present with

    a dark, velvety-like discolouration of their skin in creases under the arms, neck, knees, and

    thighs. It is referred to as acanthosis nigricans and is a marker of underlying insulin

    resistance.

  3. Hair growth (or loss) in unwanted places.

    The androgens have struck again… and this time they aren’t so pleasant. Androgens are

    often referred to as the male sex hormones, with testosterone being the most common of

    the group. While it is normal for these hormones to be naturally present in females, in

    excessive amounts they can cause hair to grow or be lost in unwanted places. Under the

    influence of androgens, excessive amounts of coarse terminal hairs can develop on places

    where men typically grow them, such as on the upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen, and back.

    In women, this symptom is called hirsutism and happens to be one of the most distressing

    aspects of PCOS. Women can also experience hair loss and thinning that occurs in a malepattern

    distribution on the scalp. This occurs because testosterone can get converted to a

    more potent androgen called DHT within the area of the scalp, which actually causes the

    hair follicles to shrink.

  4. Weight gain.

    No matter what you do, you just can’t seem to lose any weight. Does this sound familiar?

    Well, you are not alone! Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, is one of the most

    common symptoms of PCOS but is not always necessarily present. Many women struggle

    to lose weight because their cells are resistant to insulin, causing their body to store more

    fat. Because of this factor, women with PCOS are at an increased risk of developing type 2

    diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. It is important to note that this can be true

    even in lean women with PCOS, as studies have shown that insulin resistance can be

    present in both types of patients.

  5. Trouble getting pregnant.

    Have you and your partner been trying to conceive for 12 months or longer without

    success? It might be worth taking a closer look. PCOS is one of the leading causes of

    infertility in women because of the effect it has on ovulation. Women with PCOS often have

    cycles that are irregular, which makes it difficult to predict the timing of ovulation should it

    occur. Standard ovulation tests are often not useful because the hormone that they detect is

    present in constant amounts throughout the cycle. This hormone is released by the brain in

    an excessive proportion, causing the body to produce more androgens and ultimately halt

    the development of the follicles. Without adequate follicular growth, ovulation will not occur

    and the chances of conception each month are very slim.

 

If you present with any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your doctor

or request additional testing. PCOS is a condition that is widely under-diagnosed given its

complexity and variance in presentation. Early diagnosis and intervention are key because

of the impact it can have one’s health in both the short and long term. The good news is that

it is most definitely treatable – yes, hair symptoms and all!

Let’s support one another and raise awareness for PCOS by sharing these symptoms with

a family member, colleague, or friend.

 

Yours in health,

 

Dr. Jessica Geil, ND

Naturopathic Doctor

Health Over All

Hormones, Women's Health

Health Over All Team

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