![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Number-of-Women.jpg\")
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is a health issue where a woman\u2019s hormones become imbalanced. PCOS can cause many issues in women who have it including problems with their periods as well as making it more difficult to become pregnant. In addition, the polycystic ovarian syndrome can also cause unwanted changes in the way a woman looks. If PCOS is left untreated, it can cause some serious health issues over time including heart disease and diabetes.<\/p>\n
Most of the women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome will develop small cysts on their ovaries. This is the reason for the name of the syndrome. The cysts that develop on the ovaries are not harmful but lead to imbalances of the hormones. An early diagnosis and treatment plan can help to control the symptoms of the disorder and also prevent some of the long term problems that are associated with it. Here are 20 surprising facts about PCOS that every woman should know.<\/p>\n
Many people do not realize just how many women are truly affected by the polycystic ovarian syndrome<\/a>. It is estimated that one out of every twenty women in the United States who are in their childbearing years are affected by PCOS. In addition, about one out of every ten girls as young as age eleven are affected by the syndrome. This is an estimated total of approximately five million women in the United States alone who are affected by the polycystic ovarian syndrome.<\/p>\n These numbers are quite high and they are not even exact because there are many women who are affected by this disorder and do not even know it as they have not had a proper diagnosis. It is important to know these statistics because this syndrome can cause many other health issues if it is not diagnosed early and treatment is not received. Proper treatment is essential for those who suffer from PCOS.<\/p>\n Another important fact that you should know about the polycystic ovarian syndrome is that there is no exact known cause of the syndrome. While no exact cause is known, there are a few theories about what may cause a woman to develop PCOS. One theory is that women who have high insulin<\/a> levels are more likely to develop PCOS. This means that if you have a high level of insulin, there is a chance that the body has a high level of androgen production as well.<\/p>\n This can lead to the development of cysts, which can then cause PCOS. Some medical experts believe that genetics are a factor when it comes to the polycystic ovarian syndrome. There is a high number of women who suffer from this syndrome that also has a sister, mother, or another female relative who suffers from it as well. This is why it is believed that genetics may be a factor when it comes to developing PCOS.<\/p>\n The symptoms that a woman who has polycystic ovarian syndrome may experience will differ. However, the majority of women who suffer from PCOS will also experience fertility difficulties. The main reason for fertility issues in women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome is likely the overproduction of androgen<\/a> hormones combined with the limited production of the hormone progesterone. Progesterone is needed for proper egg production and ovulation.<\/p>\n When a woman is not producing eggs and ovulating regularly, it can become more difficult to get pregnant. The cysts that form on the ovaries when a woman has polycystic ovarian syndrome can also hinder progesterone production, which in turn leads to fertility issues. If you are struggling to become pregnant and also have irregular periods, there is a good chance that you have PCOS. It is important to discuss these issues with your doctor so that you can be properly treated for PCOS.<\/p>\n Another issue that women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome suffer from is irregular hair growth. This is on top of the scary fertility problems and menstruation<\/a> issues. A woman who suffers from PCOS may feel like she has no control over her body. The symptoms of this syndrome will vary from woman to woman, but irregular hair growth is one of the more common symptoms that women who have PCOS suffer from.<\/p>\n There are some women who experience thinning hair and may even have what is often referred to as male pattern baldness, other women may experience excess hair growth. Excess hair growth is called hirsutism. Hair growth may occur in areas of the women that are typically uncommon. This includes the chest, stomach, fingers, toes, and even the face. This can be one of the more embarrassing factors of the disease for many women.<\/p>\n Another issue that women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome suffer from that some people may not realize is many skin issues. The syndrome can wreak havoc on the appearance of a woman through the development of many embarrassing skin issues. Some women will develop patches of black or dark brown thick skin on their breasts, thighs, necks, and arms.<\/p>\n In addition, sudden outbreaks of acne<\/a> on the neck, back, and face are quite common in women who have the polycystic ovarian syndrome. A woman may also notice the development of skin tags under the arms and in the neck area. Skin tags are small flaps of skin that may be dark in color. These are not a big health risk, but they can be quite annoying and also may become infected if you pick at them or do not simply leave them alone. All of these skin issues can be quite embarrassing and annoying.<\/p>\n As mentioned, health professionals have noted that a woman who has a high level of insulin production may be more at risk of developing the polycystic ovarian syndrome. This may also explain another symptom of the syndrome which is unexpected weight gain. When the body is producing too much insulin it can result in weight gain. This gain in weight is often seen around the abdominal area. Women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome may develop a \u201cbeer belly\u201d or muffin top.<\/p>\n This gain in weight may come even if you do not make any changes in your diet and maintain a relatively healthy and active lifestyle. As a syndrome PCOS can be quite frustrating for women who suffer from it as it seems like no matter what they do they are going to have many unwanted side effects including skin issues and weight gain<\/a>. This may lead to a bit of depression as well.<\/p>\n Another common symptom of PCOS is sleep apnea.<\/a> Obstructed sleep apnea occurs when a person has bouts of stalled breathing while they are sleeping. While many people suffer from this, it is important to make sure that you are treated for it as it can become quite dangerous if breathing stops for too long of periods while you are asleep. One study found that nearly thirty percent of women who suffer from PCOS also suffer from obstructed sleep apnea.<\/p>\n If you are struggling with sleep and have been diagnosed with PCOS it is important to discuss it with your doctor. The asleep study will be able to determine if you suffer from sleep apnea as well. If you do, making healthy lifestyle changes in combination with medical treatment can help. As mentioned, sleep apnea can become dangerous if it is left untreated for a long time.<\/p>\n Among many of the other symptoms that are associated with the polycystic ovarian syndrome, many women who have been diagnosed with this report that they often suffer from severe pain in the pelvic<\/a> area. This pain is typically described as being throbbing and recurrent. It often appears on either one or both sides of the pelvis. This pain is often worse during menstruation. It is thought that this pain may be caused by inflammation in the ovaries.<\/p>\n It may also be a result of the heavy and prolonged periods that women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome suffer from. One of the reasons that a woman may not realize that they have this syndrome is because they simply right off the pelvic pain as being caused by their period and they fail to mention it to their medical professional. This is just one of the symptoms of the syndrome that is often ignored.<\/p>\n Women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome may experience moodiness. Anxiety<\/a> and depression may be a result of the hormonal imbalances that are caused by the syndrome. They also may be the result of dealing with all of the other symptoms that are caused by polycystic ovarian syndromes such as skin problems, irregular hair growth, baldness, and weight gain. One study from the University of Chicago found that the increase in testosterone levels of patients with PCOS may be the primary cause of mood-related disorders.<\/p>\n Heightened levels of free testosterone have been linked to anxiety, negative moods, and depression. Since women who suffer from PCOS have a higher level of testosterone, it is likely that they will experience some type of mood disorder as well. There are medications available that can help women control some of the moodiness that comes with this syndrome and you should discuss these with your doctor.<\/p>\n It is important to consider many of the facts associated with the polycystic ovarian syndrome. As mentioned above, this disorder can cause many unwanted symptoms in women. In addition, PCOS is a very common occurrence, with many people suffering from it throughout the United States. With this being said, even though PCOS is one of the most common types of endocrine<\/a> disorders in women, research into the syndrome does not receive very much funding.<\/p>\n In fact, polycystic ovarian syndrome research receives less than 0.1 percent of the funding provided by the National Institutes of Health. This is a problem because there is no direct known cause of the disorder and there is currently no cure. Further funding for research into this syndrome is needed in order to help find better treatment options. With anywhere from six to ten percent of women in the world suffering from PCOS, it is important to find better ways to treat it.<\/p>\n Many people do not realize that there is a direct link to women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome and pre-diabetes or diabetes<\/a>. The statistics show that women who suffer from PCOS have a forty percent higher chance of developing diabetes by the time they are forty than women who do not suffer from this syndrome. As mentioned, high levels of insulin have been linked to the development of the polycystic ovarian syndrome.<\/p>\n For this reason, it makes sense that a woman who suffers from polycystic ovarian syndrome is at an increased risk of developing diabetes. Insulin resistance may occur when it is being overproduced. This may be the reason that women who suffer from PCOS are more likely to develop insulin resistance and therefore develop diabetes. If you suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome it is important to follow a healthy diet to try to avoid becoming diabetic.<\/p>\n As a woman, it is important to know your numbers. This includes your cholesterol<\/a> levels. A woman who has been diagnosed with the polycystic ovarian syndrome will often have elevated levels of triglycerides and lower levels of HDL. Triglycerides are considered to be bad cholesterol and HDL is the good cholesterol. Even if the triglyceride numbers are not considered to be terribly high alone, if the HDL number is relatively low it is considered to be a problem.<\/p>\n One of the best ways to control cholesterol levels is through diet and exercise. It is important to watch your cholesterol intake and eat foods that are high in good cholesterol and avoid foods that are full of triglycerides. Making these simple changes to your diet and lifestyle choices can greatly improve your levels. High cholesterol can lead to other health issues including gallstone development, other gallbladder issues, and heart disease.<\/p>\n One surprising fact about the polycystic ovarian syndrome is that often women who have been diagnosed with the syndrome will be prescribed birth control to help. The reason for this is that taking birth control will help to even out the hormones<\/a>. Since a woman who has polycystic ovarian syndrome has a hormone imbalance, using birth control can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of the illness. Metformin may also be prescribed in order to help regulate periods.<\/p>\n One issue with this is that while birth control may help to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with PCOS, it also keeps a woman from getting pregnant. Since getting pregnant is already difficult for a woman who suffers from PCOS, taking birth control may make it even more difficult in the future. If you are younger and suffer from PCOS make sure that you discuss infertility options with your doctor if you plan on trying to have children in the future.<\/p>\n The name of this syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome can be somewhat misleading. One of the surprising facts about PCOS is that not every woman who is diagnosed with it will have cysts<\/a> on their ovaries. While this is a common symptom, it is not necessarily a symptom that leads to the diagnosis. Many women have the symptoms of the condition while having ovaries that are completely normal and ovulation that is normal. In addition, while PCOS is an endocrine disorder in women, it is not restricted to just the ovaries.<\/p>\n This condition can affect your health overall. This includes your liver, heart, and mental health. In addition, as mentioned it can cause acne, hair growth in unwanted places, baldness, weight gain, and depression. This is a condition that truly may affect the entire body. This is one of the reasons that it is important to get diagnosed and treated for it as soon as possible.<\/p>\n As mentioned above, there are many women who have been diagnosed with PCOS, which is shown in the number of women who suffer from the condition. However, these numbers may be even higher than reported because there are many women who have PCOS and are not diagnosed<\/a> with it for a very long time, if at all. Most women will only seek treatment if they are struggling to get pregnant or are suffering from irregular periods.<\/p>\n However, there are many other ways that polycystic ovarian syndrome can manifest. The problem is, many of the symptoms of the condition are often ignored or overlooked. When PCOS is left untreated it can cause even more symptoms to occur. If you notice that you have any type of symptom that is mentioned on this list, it is important to discuss it with your doctor and ask to be checked for polycystic ovarian syndrome.<\/p>\n Another surprising fact about the polycystic ovarian syndrome is that it can make you feel exhausted all of the time. Fatigue<\/a> is just one of the many symptoms of this condition. If you are feeling simply tired and exhausted all of the time, it could be a sign that you have PCOS. Since PCOS causes chronic inflammation, the result is fatigue. Even though the inflammation is low grade, it still takes a toll as your body is working around the clock to try to control the inflammation.<\/p>\n If you start to notice that you get extremely tired right before your period starts and have other severe PMS symptoms such as breast tenderness, bloating, and abdominal pain, there is a chance that you are suffering from PCOS. One of the ways to treat fatigue caused by PCOS is through diet and omega-three supplements that can help to fight off inflammation in the body.<\/p>\n As mentioned above, PCOS can cause many skin conditions to occur. One of the symptoms of polycystic ovarian cancer is the development of acne. In fact, this is often one of the first signs that you are suffering from this condition. Regular zits and spots are a part of life. However, if you start to notice that there is a regular pattern to your acne, an underlying cause of it may be PCOS. Acne in adults is almost always caused by a hormonal imbalance<\/a>.<\/p>\n Higher levels of testosterone cause the sebaceous glands to create more oil. The excess oil can get trapped inside dead skin cells, which will then cause acne to appear. Studies have shown that almost half of all women who have acne also have PCOS. This is the case even in women who do not have some of the other common symptoms such as menstrual issues, hirsutism, or obesity.<\/p>\n As mentioned, one of the side effects or symptoms of the polycystic ovarian system is being overweight<\/a>. Many of the women who suffer from this condition find that they are overweight or possibly obese. If they are not overweight, they may unexpectedly gain weight and then have difficulty losing it. When a woman is diagnosed with PCOS, chances are that her doctor is going to tell her that she needs to lose weight.<\/p>\n The problem with this advice is that the doctor does not tell you how to go about it. Fortunately, losing weight when you have PCOS is not impossible. The most important thing that you can do is to make sure that you do not just focus on the more traditional weight-loss strategies. You need to make sure that you first get your insulin resistance and hormones under control. Once these underlying problems are addressed, losing weight when you have PCOS becomes much easier.<\/p>\n There is currently no known cure for the polycystic ovarian syndrome. However, there are treatments available that can help to soothe and manage some of the symptoms of this condition. For example, if you are having sleep difficulties you can discuss them with your doctor and come up with a plan to help alleviate these.<\/p>\n If your periods are irregular, birth control can help to regulate them. Insulin sensitizing and androgen<\/a> blocking medications are often used to help to control the growth of hair and hair loss and to help soothe any skin issues. They also help to regulate ovulation, which improves the chances of fertility. Most of the symptoms of PCOS can be controlled through the use of different medications as well as a change in diet and lifestyle choices. Being active can help alleviate some of the symptoms and eating the right foods can help as well.<\/p>\n A woman who is diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome needs to realize that this condition will require ongoing care. After you have been treated for PCOS, you are going to always be susceptible to developing insulin resistance. This puts you more at risk for developing type two diabetes. Changes in the pancreas<\/a> almost always occur in women who have PCOS. This means that regulation and processing of insulin is always going to be an issue.<\/p>\n This does not change when you get pregnant and it also does not change when you go through menopause. Some of the symptoms of PCOS will improve a bit after menopause, but insulin resistance will not. The only way to keep hormone levels and insulin levels in check are to follow a healthy diet and lead a healthy lifestyle. It is also important to see your doctor for at least yearly checkups and more if your symptoms persist.<\/p>\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Resistance-insulin.jpg\")
2. Causes of PCOS<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Fertility-Issues.jpg\")
3. Fertility Issues<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Hair-Loss.jpg\")
4. Irregular Hair Growth<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Dark-Patch.jpg\")
5. Skin Problems<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Gaining-Weight-Woman.jpg\")
6. Weight Gain<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Sleep-Apnea_Women.jpg\")
7. Sleep Apnea<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Severe-Pelvic-Pain.jpg\")
8. Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Mood-Swing.jpg\")
9. Moodiness<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Funding.jpg\")
10. Funding<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Diabetes_woman.jpg\")
11. Pre-diabetes and Diabetes<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Avoid-Cholesterol.jpg\")
12. Cholesterol Levels<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Brith-control.jpg\")
13. Birth Control<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Chest-Pain.jpg\")
14. PCOS is Not Restricted to the Ovaries<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Memory-Loss_Perimenopause.jpg\")
15. Confusing Symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Tiredness.jpg\")
16. Exhaustion<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Acne.jpg\")
17. Acne is an Early Warning Sign<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Lose-Weight.jpg\")
18. Losing Weight with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Food-Taste-Better.jpg\")
19. Treatment for PCOS<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Ongoing-care-1.jpg\")
20. Ongoing Care<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>