PCOS Awareness

Many people believe PCOS is simply a problem with the ovaries. After all, it's called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and often women only discover they have it when they are having fertility problems.

PCOS does manifest itself with what appear to be multiple small cysts within the ovaries, although these are actually empty egg follicles. PCOS is an hormonal and metabolism problem that has more to do with the body's endocrine system than reproduction system.

Research still hasn't provided a definitive answer to how PCOS begins - maybe hereditary through a faulty gene? - but medical professionals are starting to recognize a link between raised androgens (hormones more associated with men) and insulin levels. Many women with PCOS are insulin resistant, which means that the body has problems converting the energy from food into glucose to transport around the body to provide energy to the cells. The body starts to produce more insulin to try and resolve the problem. If the problem continues it leads to weight gain and eventually can result in Type II Diabetes.

The extra insulin causes other hormones to increase, in particular Androgens. Just because you are producing more male hormones does not mean you are turning into a man! All women produce a small amount of these hormones but in women with PCOS these are slighted more elevated than is normal.

The hormonal and metabolic imbalance can result in a number of different symptoms such as excess and unexplained weight gain, hirsutism (body hair where women shouldn't have much hair - especially on the face), acne, irregular or absent periods, thinning hair on the head, and fertility problems or infertility. It can also lead to an increase risk of other health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, Diabetes and some cancers.

The good news is (yes, there is some good news), that once you have been diagnosed with PCOS you are in a good position to start working to combat the problems and make your body as healthy as possible.

For many years you would find little written or mentioned about PCOS in mainstream media, but thanks to the efforts of many dedicated women and PCOS organisations this is changing.

September is now designated National PCOS Awareness Month in the US, although many women around the world also used the event to spread awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Hopefully more and more events will spring up to enable us to increase people's knowledge and understanding of the problems facing women with PCOS.