What Is PCOS? What Are the Signs and Symptoms of PCOS, and How Is It Diagnosed?
PCOS is a metabolic and hormonal disorder that affects about 10 per cent of women. It occurs when the ovaries or adrenal glands begin to make excess androgens. (These are “male” hormones that women naturally have low amounts of in their bodies.) Women with PCOS also have lower levels of progesterone (sold as Prometrium), a sex hormone that is important for regular menstrual periods and maintaining a pregnancy. A third hormone involved is insulin. Problems with insulin sensitivity can lead to a rise of insulin in the body, which, in turn, leads to metabolic dysfunction.
You’d think that with a name like PCOS, the condition would mean that women have cysts on their ovaries, but that’s not always the case. In fact, to be diagnosed with PCOS, a woman needs to meet two of the following three criteria, per 2013 guidelines from The Endocrine Society.
- Androgen Excess This appears as hirsutism, or dark, hair in unwanted places on the face and body, severe acne, and male-pattern hair loss.
- Ovulatory Dysfunction This is doctor-speak for irregular periods (most often especially long cycles or absent cycles).
- Polycystic Ovaries Not every woman has cysts, but some women do. This will be found on an ultrasound.
Unfortunately, about half of women who have PCOS have no idea. Below are common symptoms of PCOS. Keep in mind that not all women have every symptom. If you’re experiencing any of the below, talk to your doctor, and ask about the possibility of PCOS:
- Irregular Periods Because of a lack of progesterone, periods don’t come regularly and the cycle is longer than it should be. “Patients have unpredictable cycles, and have about eight or fewer cycles per year,” says David A. Ehrmann, MD, director of the University of Chicago Center for PCOS in Illinois.
- Infertility PCOS impairs the ovary’s ability to develop and release an egg. A woman may not even realize she has PCOS until she’s tried to get pregnant without success and goes to the doctor for a check-up.
- Hirsutism, Hair loss, and Acne Excess hair growth on the face and body, male pattern hair loss on the head, and acne may be some outward signs that tell doctors a patient has high androgen levels, and she may have PCOS.
- Weight Gain Half of women with PCOS gain unexpected weight or are obese. Nonetheless, you don’t have to be overweight or obese to have PCOS, as it occurs in thin women as well.
- Mood Disorders Anxiety, depression, poor body image, and eating disorders are common in women who have PCOS.
- Insulin Resistance Skin tags and dark, velvety patches of skin around the armpits, groin, and neck can be signs of insulin resistance, says Medling.
- Fatigue Sleep apnea, which can make you feel sleepy during the day, is commonly reported in women with PCOS.
