PCOS often runs in families. Up to 70 percent of daughters of women with PCOS also develop it, but genetic variation doesn't fully explain the high incidence within families—some genome-wide association studies of PCOS susceptibility reckon genetics explains less than 10 percent of the condition's heritability.
And while PCOS doesn't have a clear hereditary pattern, per the Genetics Home Reference, there does seem to be some sort of family association—an estimated 20%–40% of those with PCOS have an affected family member, usually a mother or sister.
Genetics of PCOS
PCOS is an extremely heterogenetic and complex disease. The genetic basis of PCOS is different between families and within families but is related to a common pathway. Due to complexity and heterogeneity single gene or related genes in a single family have not been reported.
It has been long believed PCOS is primarily a disorder of the female reproductive endocrine system. However, other research has found that male first-degree relatives of women with PCOS also have higher rates of cardiometabolic disease, suggesting that the underlying genetics can be shared between men and women.
The exact cause is not known, but there appears to be a genetic component as it tends to run in families. Teens with PCOS are also found to have increased levels of male hormones and resistance to insulin. Although there is no cure for PCOS, effective treatment can control and eliminate many symptoms.
PCOS often runs in families. Up to 70 percent of daughters of women with PCOS also develop it, but genetic variation doesn't fully explain the high incidence within families—some genome-wide association studies of PCOS susceptibility reckon genetics explains less than 10 percent of the condition's heritability.
Researchers have found evidence that chronic disease in either a mother or father can create unfavourable conditions in the womb that are associated with the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in daughters.
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.
As previously stated, the shape of a PCOS belly differs from other types of weight gain. It often appears large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genetics and other factors. The PCOS belly involves the accumulation of visceral fat in the lower abdomen and typically feels firm to the touch.
Results: No significant difference in sex ratio was detected between PCOS and controls, even if it resulted significantly different in the full-blown and non-PCO phenotypes.
You can know your genetic risk for PCOS with a genetic test. A genetic test studies your genetic predispositions and recommends dietary and fitness interventions to manage or prevent it. A genetic test is done with your saliva sample - many health conditions and traits are assessed by studying your genes.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. There's evidence that genetics play a role. Several other factors, most importantly obesity, also play a role in causing PCOS: Higher levels of male hormones called androgens: High androgen levels prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs, which causes irregular menstrual cycles.
Experts believe that elevated male hormones in women are what causes PCOS belly. Several other factors may play a role in the big and bloated stomach. This includes insulin resistance, genetics, hormonal imbalance, metabolism defects, and inflammation.
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.
The effect of PCOS on the incidence of fibrocystic breast changes was 2.49 (95% CI 1.85–3.34). Also, the effect of hypothyroidism on the incidence of fibrocystic breast changes was 1.90 (95% CI 0.92–3.93). The results showed that women with PCOS were at higher risks to develop fibrocystic breast changes.
Experts estimate that 5 to 10 percent of women ages 18 to 44 have PCOS. The syndrome is usually detected in women between ages 20 and 30, but the earliest signs can be evident in younger girls including those who have not yet started menstruation.
Genetics. PCOS sometimes runs in families. If any relatives, such as your mother, sister or aunt, have PCOS, the risk of you developing it is often increased. This suggests there may be a genetic link to PCOS, although specific genes associated with the condition have not yet been identified.
It's also important to keep in mind that just because a woman has PCOS doesn't mean that she also has infertility. As one study points out, 70 to 80 percent of these women are infertile. (5) That leaves up to 30 percent of women who may become pregnant on their own without the use of fertility treatments.
About 70% of women who have PCOS have difficulty conceiving, either because of ovulation issues or not having enough progesterone. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones that results in problems in the ovaries.
If you have PCOS, you might struggle to get pregnant. Fortunately, with lifestyle changes or infertility treatment, most people with PCOS can become pregnant.
Research also suggests that the body might make too much insulin , signaling the ovaries to release extra male hormones. PCOS seems to run in families too, so if someone in your family has it, you might be more likely to develop it.
So women with PCOS are more likely to have trouble conceiving than other women. While most women who have PCOS become pregnant, they often take longer to fall pregnant and are more likely to need fertility treatment than women without PCOS.
There does seem to be a genetic component with PCOS. However, since the incidence is increasing, potentially due to an environmental component in the form of endocrine disruptors, it's not unusual for a patient to have no significant family history.
Many women with PCOS struggle to lose weight because the condition creates an imbalance in hunger hormones, causing blood sugar levels to spike and crash throughout the day. “As a result, it is not uncommon for women with PCOS to develop an eating disorder, such as binge eating and yo-yo-dieting,” Dr. Kumar says.