{"id":1070,"date":"2018-04-16T08:58:01","date_gmt":"2018-04-16T08:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=1070"},"modified":"2021-10-04T13:07:44","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T13:07:44","slug":"15-silent-pcos-symptoms-women-usually-ignore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/15-silent-pcos-symptoms-women-usually-ignore\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Silent PCOS Symptoms Women Usually Ignore"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"PCOS is short for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and it mostly affects women that are still fertile \u2013 that is, women who are old enough to be well into womanhood, but still young enough to not have entered menopause.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s known to affect approximately ten percent of women: That means that one in every ten women you meet might have it \u2013 and some estimates guess that it could be double of that estimated number. It\u2019s also thought that approximately 70% of cases are currently going undiagnosed, which could make the number of women suffering from PCOS even higher than has previously been thought.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be part of the undiagnosed statistic of women who can\u2019t figure out the root cause of their discomfort. Could you identify the symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome if they were to happen o you or someone you know? Here are the most common PCOS symptoms that women usually skip over.\\<\/p>\n

1. Knowing exactly what PCOS is<\/strong><\/h3>\n

First, to understand the symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (abbreviated to PCOS) and recognize them when they happen to you or someone you love will be to know exactly what PCOS is and how it works.<\/p>\n

The condition appears to be caused by hormonal imbalances in the body \u2013 usually an overabundance of male hormones that are called androgens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This imbalance gets in the body\u2019s way of being able to release an egg during their normal menstrual cycle, and this in turn can cause all sorts of symptoms that are directly linked to the hormonal levels in your body.<\/p>\n

Other hormone imbalances are also part of this process, such as insulin and something called the Luteinizing hormone \u2013 or LH for short. If you don\u2019t know what PCOS does to the body, you might have a hard time identifying the signs and symptoms when they happen to you or a loved one.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. Excess hair growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Another sign and symptom that can point to the underlying fact that you are suffering from PCOS is excess hair growth, though the fancier, scientific name for this occurrence is hirsutism<\/a> \u2013 yes, it still just means \u201cexcess hair growth\u201d or sometimes \u201chair in places you normally wouldn\u2019t have them.\u201d<\/p>\n

This in itself is an uncomfortable symptom for many women \u2013 and one they might deal with in private, plucking their hairs themselves rather than asking their doctors why it keeps happening. Excess hair growth can occur in the more obvious places, like suddenly sprouting a fuller head of hair, or it can come in the form of the more uncomfortable female moustache, which is usually a sign that something is wrong when it comes to your hormonal imbalance.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not something you should have to be ashamed of: Rather ask your doctor and have it checked out, it could be a symptom of something much more serious.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. Sudden hair loss<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Instead of experiencing excess hair growth (or hirustism) as a symptom, many women instead experience sudden hair loss as a symptom.<\/p>\n

The fancier, scientific name for hair loss (not just sudden hair loss) is alopecia. In most reported cases thereof, alopecia<\/a> can be attributed to a combination of genetics (so think of your nearest family members and ask yourself if they still have a full head of hair) and hormones.<\/p>\n

There are other causes for it, including taking certain medications or pointing to the fact that there\u2019s something wrong in your diet; some over the counter hair-care products can also cause hair loss if it presents in an allergy.<\/p>\n

Hair loss in any part of the body can also be attributed to the hormonal changes that come with PCOS: The body produces more male hormones, and this affects the way the body produces (and thus grows) hair. Watch it closely.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Irregular periods<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Irregular periods can be caused by a whole range of things: One of the most common causes of a missed period is stress or a sudden change in diet; certain medications can also cause women to skip their periods or their cycles to change. And yes, it\u2019s completely true that women\u2019s menstrual cycles can \u201csync up\u201d if they find themselves in close proximity to other women.<\/p>\n

But irregular periods don\u2019t just classify as missed periods \u2013 they can also include irregular or overly heavy bleeding<\/a>, which is sometimes caused by hormonal changes and can also be a symptom of PCOS. Always take note of changes that occur in your menstrual cycle, whether you happen to be a few days late or you are bleeding heavier than usual: Make an appointment and mention these changes to your doctor. They could very well be a sign of something more serious.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Weight gain<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve already mentioned that a hormonal imbalance<\/a> in the body is the most common cause behind PCOS, and with a hormonal imbalance you\u2019re bound to experience a range of other symptoms related to imbalances. One of these symptoms is a sudden irregular weight gain or weight loss \u2013 both symptoms which can occur in cases of PCOS.<\/p>\n

Irregular weight gain and loss have many potential causes, including an actual change in your diet, experiencing stress, being on some types of medication, even entering a new phase of your life \u2013 many women will experience periods of weight gain categorized by periods of weight loss, and this is completely normal.<\/p>\n

But if there\u2019s no obvious cause for your weight gain or weight loss and it seems to be continuing, make an appointment and speak to your doctor. As we\u2019ve mentioned, sudden weight gain or loss can be a sign that something else is wrong.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Acne<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What PCOS does to the body is mostly about hormonal changes \u2013 when someone suffers from PCOS, the body is producing too many male hormones and too few female ones. (There are other conditions this can cause, don\u2019t think that PCOS is the only one by far \u2013 hormonal imbalances can also come with other conditions such as endometriosis <\/a>or a diet imbalance.)<\/p>\n

When you think hormonal imbalances, many people imagine teenagers \u2013 and you\u2019d be right in thinking that many problems you experience related to hormonal balance will resemble being a teenager again. One of these symptoms is suddenly developing oily skin (especially where you aren\u2019t used to this as a baseline or haven\u2019t experienced this since you were in your teens) \u2013 and a side-effect of this is developing pimples on the skin or acne. This can occur anywhere on the body, including the neck, lower back and buttocks \u2013 not just on your face.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Difficulty with pregnancy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Many women who suffer from PCOS experience severe difficulty with getting pregnant. No matter how hard they try, they might not be able to get pregnant in the first place or be able to carry a pregnancy to full term. (We\u2019re including this as a separate point to infertility<\/a> just for the reason that difficulty with pregnancy is a broad category \u2013 many people can get pregnant, but not follow it through after that).<\/p>\n

This is due to the imbalances associated with PCOS, and the fact that it affects the normal release of eggs \u2013 which is obviously needed for a healthy pregnancy carried to term. You should discuss any difficulty with getting pregnant with both your partner and medical professionals; consider seeing a fertility expert, and rule out any other potential causes first, including potential infertility on your partners side: Many clinics can do a quick test for sperm count so that you\u2019re absolutely sure.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Infertility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some women don\u2019t just experience moderate difficulty with getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to full term: They happen to be completely infertile instead.<\/p>\n

This means that, because of the effect that PCOS has on the body in terms of the hormonal imbalances and the fact that the eggs cannot release like they normally should, some women suffering from PCOS find that they cannot get pregnant at all. In most cases, infertility associated with PCOS is temporary and can be treated with the right levels of medication to restore your hormones to where they should be.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re experiencing trouble with infertility right now, consult a fertility expert with your partner and rule out any other potential causes for infertility of which there are many \u2013 including endometriosis. Yes, infertility could also be on your partner\u2019s side, and it\u2019s recommended that they get their fertility and hormone<\/a> levels checked out with yours just in case.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. Excess insulin<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While a less commonly thought of symptom when it comes to PCOS, excess insulin can also be part of the range of symptoms women experience. In short and simple terms, insulin is a hormone created by the pancreas that affects the way your body processes and absorbs sugar. When people develop diabetes, it\u2019s their insulin<\/a> levels they need to keep an eye on.<\/p>\n

Yes, that\u2019s why diabetics have to inject themselves with insulin at periodic times throughout the day \u2013 especially before or after eating something that affects their body\u2019s sugar levels. And that\u2019s why you need to eat something when you start to feel light headed \u2013 it\u2019s when your blood sugar levels get low and need a boost, usually with a snack.<\/p>\n

Blood tests might show that you have elevated levels of insulin in your body, or you might already be prediabetic or diabetic: Whichever way, it\u2019s something that can be treated if you manage to spot and treat the symptoms early enough.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Depression<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are many symptoms that can be caused by a hormonal imbalance in the body, and what sometimes makes it hard to spot is the fact that not all symptoms have an obvious outward, physical sign.<\/p>\n

Have you been feeling a little sad lately? Or do you find yourself thinking that the world is depressingly dark and that there\u2019s no way out of the dark hole you find yourself in? Then you could be suffering from clinical depression, and there are many potential causes for it:<\/p>\n

These can include taking certain medications, a chemical imbalance in the brain, having the wrong diet. Depression<\/a> is controllable as a condition, and there are many people suffering from it who live a happy and successful life. But the moment you spot the signs, we\u2019d advise you to visit your nearest doctor and rule out other potential symptoms \u2013 depression can be a battle, and another potential sign of PCOS.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. Pelvic Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Many women find that they experience pelvic<\/a> pain with no other relatable cause. This can be signs of many disorders, including everything from arthritis through to endometriosis, another condition which involves cysts attaching themselves to the ovaries. Sometimes, though not always, this is a clear sign of PCOS that comes from the hormonal imbalances associated with it.<\/p>\n

PCOS does sometimes cause cysts to form inside the body just like other hormonal conditions, and this can worsen the pelvic pain by far. Never ignore any kind of pelvic pain you have been experiencing, even if you think you can pin the pain down to something you think you did, like lifting something heavy a few days ago.<\/p>\n

The pelvic pain may or may not flare up around the time of your period, so always take note of when the pain starts occurring, getting better and is at its worst. Your doctor will want to know.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. Hormonal imbalances<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Throughout the scope of this article we\u2019ve kept throwing the words \u201chormonal imbalances\u201d around \u2013 but just what are hormonal imbalances and why are they the cause for so many potential health conditions? Shortly, hormones tell the cells and tissues in your body what to do \u2013 they are, if you want to call them that, the \u201cactivators\u201d to your body\u2019s reactions.<\/p>\n

There are many hormones in the body \u2013 around as much as fifty of them \u2013 and each of them have their own individual functions. If something isn\u2019t right, let\u2019s say you have too little estrogen and a little too much testosterone<\/a>, we can say you have a hormonal imbalance \u2013 and your body will subsequently react, usually by doing either too much or too little of something.<\/p>\n

These can be picked up when you are experiencing anything odd related to your health, but they are diagnosed usually through blood tests.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. Pain during sex<\/h3>\n

Pain during sex is a problem for many women, and it seems like it\u2019s a condition that we\u2019ve only started talking about in the last twenty years \u2013 before then, it seemed like women felt like they didn\u2019t have enough of a platform to come right out and say it.<\/p>\n

There were even some who felt that it wasn\u2019t their place to voice their discomfort. But we should point out that any kind of discomfort or pain experienced during sex is not normal and deserves immediate attention from a medical professional.<\/p>\n

There can be many causes for pain experienced during sex, including sudden tightening of the vagina (vaginismus, a generally painful condition that makes sex painful or impossible) or endometriosis<\/a>, for which sex ironically is considered to help the cramping. It can also be a sign of PCOS: If anything hurts, visit your doctor and ask.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. Cyst growths<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It might come as a surprise to you to read this, but not all cases of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome will have cyst<\/a> growths associated with it as a symptom, despite the fact that it\u2019s in the name. In the cases where it does, the cysts grow onto the ovaries, causing extreme pain \u2013 sometimes permanent, and sometimes flaring up around the usual time you would expect your period.<\/p>\n

Polycystic ovary syndrome can also be related to other conditions such as endometriosis, and the cysts can also tear and bleed over time, causing intense pain \u2013 especially when the abdomen is pressed or something heavy is accidentally lifted.<\/p>\n

You should get any signs of pain and discomfort checked out by your doctor; cyst growths are usually confirmed through an ultra-sound \u2013 it\u2019s a non-invasive test that can help you spot problems later on. There cysts don\u2019t always turn cancerous, but it should be known that they can, especially if a condition like PCOS is ignored for a long period of time.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. Conditions associated with PCOS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are many conditions which can be associated with PCOS \u2013 that is associated, not confused. That means that should you suffer from undiagnosed or untreated PCOS for a long period of time and never get it checked out, you could later develop some of these related conditions as a result.<\/p>\n

Some of the conditions that come with PCOS include endometriosis \u2013 another condition which is related to cyst growth and hormonal imbalances \u2013 and obesity, which can set into a more serious problem that originally arises from the sudden weight gain associated with PCOS. Women suffering from PCOS can also suffer from diabetes<\/a> in conjunction, as raised insulin levels are part of it.<\/p>\n

Women suffering from PCOS can also develop high blood pressure or high cholesterol as a result. High blood sugar is also often associated with PCOS and its symptoms. Some might even be at a higher risk for developing heart disease in general.<\/p>\n\r\n

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