As mentioned earlier, the PCOS belly shape is usually large and bloated but can also be small. This means you can have a flat stomach and still have PCOS, so watch out for other symptoms. Those with a big belly can gain a flat tummy through dietary and lifestyle changes.
PCOS belly is one symptom of this widespread syndrome. If you have a PCOS belly, it often means you are apple-shaped with a prominent fat pad around the middle of your waist. The cause is likely multifactorial and related to excess male hormones and other metabolic imbalances.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to help manage your PCOS symptoms and alleviate bloating. Some common medications include diuretics, which help reduce fluid retention, and medications to improve insulin sensitivity, such as metformin.
Like any other syndrome, PCOS can involve a variety of different symptoms. One of the more common ones is abdominal weight gain, which is often referred to as the “PCOS belly.” A PCOS belly is the result of PCOS-related weight gain and may be caused by different factors.
Experts believe that the increased male hormones in women contribute to the development of a PCOS belly. Other factors that may contribute to a large and bloated stomach include insulin resistance, genetics, hormonal imbalances, metabolic defects, and inflammation.
Often, the skin can be a window to what is occurring inside your body. For women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, this this may mean acne, hair loss, excessive facial or body hair growth, dark patches on the skin, or any combination of these issues.
Women with PCOS have higher levels of male hormones and many tend to be overweight or obese. Lots of women with PCOS have excess body hair, acne, irregular periods, and weight gain specifically in the abdomen. Instead of the traditional female pear shape, those with PCOS tend to have an apple shape.
Women with PCOS may not ovulate, have high levels of androgens, and have many small cysts on the ovaries. PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain.
Although a majority of cases with PCOS are obese/overweight, a small but significant proportion of patients present with normal body mass index (BMI; ≤25 kg/M2) that makes diagnostic work up and therapeutic approach more difficult. These cases are termed as lean PCOS.
Losing weight is challenging with PCOS, but not impossible. It may take you longer to lose weight than someone without hormonal imbalances. While slow progress can feel discouraging, a healthy lifestyle has benefits you may not notice right away.
Unusual PCOS Signs
Unwanted hair growth, known as hirsutism, on areas where men normally grow hair such as the face, arms, back, chest, thumbs, toes, and abdomen. Hirsutism is the result of hormonal changes in androgens. Mood changes such as mood swings, depression, and anxiety.
The signs of PCOS can vary, but it typically involves at least two of these issues: Infrequent, irregular, or prolonged periods. Physical changes like excess facial or body hair, severe acne, or male-pattern baldness. Enlarged ovaries covered in small cysts.
PCOS is a very common hormone problem for women of childbearing age. Women with PCOS may not ovulate, have high levels of androgens, and have many small cysts on the ovaries. PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain.
Getting rid of abdominal fat is difficult, but it might be more difficult for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This is because the hormonal imbalance brought on by PCOS makes it challenging for food to be metabolised, which impacts weight loss.
However, their PCOS hormonal imbalance does not change with age, so they may continue to have symptoms of PCOS. Also, the risks of PCOS-related health problems, such as diabetes, stroke, and heart attack, increase with age. These risks may be higher in women with PCOS than those without.
With PCOS, it's thought that increased levels of insulin in the body causes the ovaries to work differently, which produces high levels of androgens (male-type hormones). These hormones cause various symptoms, such as irregular periods and hair and skin conditions.
Symptoms of PCOS
PCOS affects your hormones dramatically, so you may experience these symptoms: Hair loss from your scalp and/or hair growth (hirsutism) in unexpected places. Oily skin and acne problems. Infertility (ovulation problems) or repeat miscarriages.
Insulin resistance: Women with PCOS are more likely to have insulin resistance, which means that their bodies have difficulty using insulin effectively to process glucose. It can lead to high blood sugar levels, which can make it more difficult to lose weight.
In addition to its effects on insulin and glucose levels, which benefit PCOS patients with insulin resistance, Metformin can also reduce fatty tissue and help with weight loss. As both a treatment for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, Metformin addresses both symptoms of PCOS and the common comorbidity of obesity.
Medications effective for weight loss (in addition to lifestyle modifications) that have been specifically studied in women with PCOS include metformin, acarbose, sibutramine, and orlistat (Xenical). Metformin is probably the first-line medication for obesity or weight reduction in patients with PCOS.
You are born with PCOS, but symptoms often start during puberty although for some people this can be later, up to their early twenties. There are lots of different symptoms that can be caused by PCOS.