What are the symptoms of PCOS?
PCOS is a syndrome and the symptoms vary widely. In addition to these symptoms, women with PCOS are more likely to have auto-immune or inflammation related disease such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Few women have all of these symptoms, but if you see that you have several symptoms it is important to talk to your doctor. Some of these symptoms may actually be the same as the symptoms of other endocrine disorders such as Cushing’s disease or thyroid issues. · Irregular periods or no periods · Painful or unusually heavy or light periods · Irregular or absent ovulation · Hirsutism (hair on face, stomach, thighs, arms, breasts, etc.) · Alopecia (thinning hair or male pattern baldness) · High blood pressure · Infertility · Obesity (especially around the stomach) · Difficulty losing weight · Insulin resistance or hypoglycemia · Fatigue · Depression or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) · Mood swings, some women report feelings of anger
Women with PCOS may have some of the following symptoms: • Obesity or weight gain — Commonly a woman with PCOS will have what is called an apple figure where excess weight is concentrated heavily in the abdomen, similar to the way men often gain weight, with comparatively narrower arms and legs. The waist: hip ratio is higher (> 0.85) than on a pear-shaped woman. There is not only a tendency to gain weight but also considerable difficulty in losing weight. Weight also tends to bounce back the moment active efforts are stopped. It should be noted that most (40-60%), but not all, women with PCOS are overweight.
PCOS is characterized by a number of different symptoms, some of which are very unpleasant and uncomfortable. If you recognize any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to visit with your health care provider. PCOS symptoms include: • irregular menstruation • amenorrhea • infrequent ovulation • anovulation • weight gain • excess hair growth (hirsutism) • oily skin and acne • male-pattern baldness • dark patches on the skin Complications of PCOS If left untreated, PCOS can cause a number of complications. It is associated with: • obesity • heart disease • diabetes • infertility Diagnosing PCOS Diagnosing PCOS can be difficult. This is because of the wide variety of symptoms caused by the disorder which, on the surface, do not appear to be related at all. If you are experiencing any PCOS symptoms, ask your doctor about the possibility of PCOS. In order to detect the presence of any cysts, your health care provider will first give you a pelvic exam. During this exam, your health care provi
