Unmanaged PCOS can impact short and long term health. It's associated with type 2 diabetes, infertility, cardiovascular disease, obesity, sleep apnea (disrupted breathing in sleep), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and depression (9-11). Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce these risks significantly.
If polycystic ovary syndrome is left untreated, the syndrome may lead to serious, life-threatening illnesses such as cardiovascular and heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and uterine and endometrial cancers. Therefore, PCOS treatment is critical and one cannot afford to ignore!
Menstrual irregularity is often due to an imbalance of hormones. 1 Some women with PCOS can have a period that lasts three weeks. Others may not get a period for three months, never knowing when or if it will show up. Some women may get no periods whatsoever.
Living with PCOS can increase risks of type 2 diabetes - a condition which causes higher than normal levels of blood sugar. 6. Mood swings and depression are also risk factors associated with PCOS. If you ignore PCOS for a long time, it may cause mood swings and depression which you may not be able to control.
Recent studies have shown that women who were diagnosed as having PCOS 30 years ago have a completely normal life expectancy. An inspection of more than 700 death certificates from women with PCOS has shown that there is no excess risk of cancer in any organ or of heart disease.
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.
PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain. Women with PCOS may be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and endometrial cancer.
Not All Women With PCOS Are the Same
While women with PCOS may have similar symptoms, they can vary in their severity and presentation. This variation in women can result in medical professionals overlooking a PCOS diagnosis by focusing on treating the problem women most want help with.
Lea Michele
The Glee star has opened up about being diagnosed with PCOS after experiencing severe acne and fluctuating weight. “The side effects [of PCOS] can be brutal — like weight gain and bad skin,” Lea shared with Health. “I went to a great doctor, and the minute she looked at me, she was like, 'Oh, you have PCOS.
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.
No periods at all
Some women with PCOS experience an absence of periods for three or more consecutive cycles. This is known as amenorrhea, and it's one of the major causes of infertility in women with PCOS. After all, if there are no periods, that means no egg is being released as part of a menstrual cycle.
Symptoms: there are no noticeable symptoms in around half of women with the condition, and there is usually no vaginal soreness or itching. Symptoms may include a greyish-white, thin and watery vaginal discharge with a strong fishy smell, especially after sex.
Consult your doctor if you've missed at least three menstrual periods in a row, or if you've never had a menstrual period and you're age 15 or older.
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.
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.
Absolutely. Remember, PCOS affects your reproductive system and hormones, and too much vigorous exercise might increase your stress hormones like cortisol. Doing too much exercise in general can also lead to a negative energy imbalance, meaning you're burning far more energy than you're consuming.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed. Treatment options can vary because someone with PCOS may experience a range of symptoms, or just 1.
PCOS, although non-cancerous, needs to be addressed because it increases the chances of developing ovarian cancer later.
Complications and Long-Term Concerns Related to PCOS
Women with this syndrome have a greater risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease (metabolic syndrome). 5 All of these are treatable or preventable, but she will need to make certain lifestyle changes.
So it would seem there is a strong likelihood that traumatic events, or prolonged stress responses, can activate the expression of PCOS-related symptoms.
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.
If left untreated, PCOD problem in future can lead to type 2 diabetes, obesity and other mental issues due to hormonal imbalance whereas PCOS in future can have serious complications such as risk of hypertension, hyperglycaemia, endometrial cancer and pregnancy complications (premature birth / preeclampsia / ...