PCOS: A Report in Women's Health

Science has made a lot of advancements in the study on various health problems affecting women across the world. Among research on breast and ovarian cancer, a similarly severe, and under-researched condition is becoming more and more common in young women. This condition is known as Polycycstic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. The following report will go into great detail on covering this condition to help inform you, the reader, and to spread awareness of a potentially dangerous medical mystery.

What is it? PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), is a condition that affects a woman's ovaries, and ability to conceive children. Essentially, when a woman has PCOS, her ovaries are bigger than average, and an abnormally large amount of fluid filled follicles grow around the egg. This, in turn, hinders the stimulation of hormones in the woman's body. To be more clear, when a woman has PCOS, these follicles never mature, and remain undeveloped and unable to ovulate to produce an egg that can become fertilized. This results in irregular periods, and infertility. Weight gain and excess body hair also occurs in women with this condition.

PCOS is not predictable in how it is diagnosed. Some women experience absolutely no symptoms, when ultrasounds show the appearance of cysts. Others experience excruciating pain during their menstrual cycles, especially so, when experiencing large gaps of time during cycles. With the unpredictability of symptoms, diagnosis can be a time consuming process and seem almost as if it is hit and miss.

In conjunction with irregularities in menstrual cycles, and infertility, some of the other symptoms of PCOS include Acne, and obesity. Since PCOS affects young girls as young as eleven years of age, it is hard to diagnose during this time, as adolescent girls often experience weight gain and acne in normal instances as well. Some women also experience frequent miscarriages due to the hormonal impact PCOS has on the body.

Infertility is not the most extreme risk associated with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. There is also a high risk for Endometrial Cancer, which is a cancer that attacks the lining of the womb. Women with PCOS also have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Just, how exactly, is PCOS diagnosed? Diagnosis really depends on the symptoms the patient expresses, as well as the appearance of said patient. If it becomes a likely diagnosis based on appearance and description of key symptoms from the patient, then a series of tests and investigative steps are taken by the doctor. These steps include series after series of blood tests for female sex hormones, male sex hormones, glucose, and thyroid functionality. Ultrasounds are also given. However, some women get back completely normal blood test results, causing a seemingly endless loop of tests, and queries.

As far as treatment goes, there are 2 different ranges available today. One range helps improve fertility in women who are looking to conceive, yet suffer from PCOS. The other range helps treat obesity, over-growth of hair, and irregular periods, though, these treatments are not proven effective as of yet.

The best advice that can be given in this case, is to pay attention to your body. If you are a young girl or woman between the ages of eleven and thirty, with irregular menstrual cycles, don't shrug it off as normalcy. It is true that PCOS shares the same symptoms with other conditions such as hyperthyroidism and even egg deficiencies. None of these conditions are harmless. It is good advice to keep an eye on your weight, and watch out for the telltale signs of a hormonal imbalance such as hirsutism, also known as overgrowth of bodily and facial hair.