Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - PCOS

PCOS is classified as a hormonal disorder and characterized by fluid-filled sacs that develop on one or both ovaries.

This condition is closely tied to hormones, particularly an overproduction of androgens, like testosterone.

Identifying PCOS

Identifying PCOS can be tricky as symptoms may vary from woman to woman. As a result, many may go undiagnosed until they try to get pregnant and experience difficulties.

In teens, the symptoms of PCOS may be mistaken with those of puberty, such as acne or menstrual irregularities, among others.

Continue to the next section to discover what causes PCOS.

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While the exact causes of PCOS are not fully understood, it is believed to have hormonal roots, often in combination with or due to other factors, like genetics.

Hormonal Causes of PCOS

There are two hormonal factors that are of significance when it comes to determining what causes PCOS: high androgen and insulin levels.

Excess Androgens

Androgens is an umbrella term for sex hormones typically associated with males, such as testosterone. Women do produce some androgens, but to a much lesser degree than men.

Excessive androgen levels in PCOS not only cause symptoms like acne and skin growths, but also disturb the development of ovarian follicles and prevent ovulation, thus further worsening the state of hormonal imbalance.

Excess Insulin

Insulin - a pancreatic hormone that influences how the body uses glucose for energy - is also thought to play a role in the development of PCOS.

When a woman's body develops insulin resistance, the levels of glucose and insulin in the blood increase. When not properly managed, excess insulin may trigger the ovaries to make more androgens, thus causing hormonal imbalance and a wide variety of symptoms.

Other Causes of PCOS

Besides hormonal factors, there is strong evidence that genetics play an important role in PCOS as research has shown that women are more likely to suffer from PCOS if their relatives also had it.²

Additionally, various environmental and lifestyle factors, such as poor nutrition or excess body weight, as well as low-grade inflammation may also be potential PCOS causes.^3,4 However, more research is needed to corroborate these claims.

Keep reading to learn more about signs and symptoms of PCOS.

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Because symptoms of PCOS vary from woman to woman and may be attributed to other medical conditions, they are not enough to make the final diagnosis. As such, a medical doctor might order diagnostics tests to analyze various signs of PCOS and complete the diagnosis process.

Symptoms of PCOS

While many women notice first PCOS symptoms during puberty, others might not observe any abnormalities until they have trouble getting pregnant later on in life.

When present, most symptoms are closely associated with excess androgen and insulin levels. They may include the following:

• Irregular periods, especially infrequent or absent periods
• Acne
• Excess hair growth, or hirsutism, on the chin, upper lip, chest, or lower abdomen
• Ovulation problems, including anovulation or oligoovulation
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• Darkened skin around the neck and armpits
• Obesity
• Hair thinning on the scalp (male pattern balding)
• Sleep apnea
• Skin tags

Because of excess androgen levels, some women may develop masculine features.

Signs of PCOS

The following are the most characteristic signs of PCOS that will be used in the diagnosis process: 

• Abnormal androgen levels
• Abnormal blood sugar levels
• Polycystic ovaries
• Body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² and above

Diagnosis of PCOS

The signs and symptoms of PCOS can be hard to pinpoint as they may overlap with symptoms of puberty, insulin resistance, diabetes, or other hormonal disorders.

As such, a physician will typically analyze the reported symptoms along with the results of the following medical tests:

• Physical exam, including a pelvic exam and a review of the patient's medical history

• Blood tests to measure androgen levels as well as other health parameters, like blood glucose or lipids

• Ultrasound to confirm the presence of polycystic ovaries

Complications of PCOS

Consistently high hormone levels in PCOS are a recognized risk factor for a number of conditions, most importantly infertility. In fact, PCOS is one of the leading causes of fertility problems among women of reproductive age.⁷

Those that do manage to get pregnant with PCOS might have higher odds of suffering from gestational diabetes.⁴

Additionally, women with PCOS might be at an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, which, in turn, makes them more likely to suffer from cardiovascular problems.^8,9,10

A long-term absence of menstruation, or amenorrhea, has also been shown to increase the risk of uterine cancer.¹⁰

Continue reading to find out more about the most effective approaches to treating PCOS and restoring your optimal well-being.

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PCOS treatment is often approached from multiple angles because of the complexity of the condition. The focus is placed on balancing hormones, relieving symptoms, and preventing complications.

Three Approaches to Treating PCOS

There are three levels of approaches that can be considered for treating PCOS, depending on symptom severity and a woman's reproductive plans: (1) Lifestyle Changes, (2) Alternative Medicine, and (3) Conventional Medicine.

Lifestyle changes alongside alternative medicine are generally recommended as the first course of action because they entail the lowest risk and also benefit overall health. For severe symptoms, more conventional and generally more risky options might be more appropriate. 

Lifestyle Changes for PCOS

Lifestyle changes are a wholesome approach to treating PCOS. In many cases, the implementation of healthy habits, including eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and reaching a normal weight, may effectively eliminate the symptoms of the condition.

Proper nutrition and physical activity can also enhance a woman's fertility by improving how the body uses insulin and regulating blood glucose levels.

Lifestyle changes can also be safely accompanied by alternative medicine, which is a safe and natural option for balancing hormone levels.

Alternative Medicine for PCOS

While alternative medicine spans a wide range of remedies, herbal supplements in particular can help with PCOS because of the effect they have on hormone levels. Their most common types include phytoestrogenic and hormone-regulating herbal supplements.

Additionally, other herbal supplements may also be beneficial for the treatment of PCOS.

For many women with PCOS, the combination of healthy lifestyle changes and herbal supplements is an effective way to treat the symptoms and balance hormone levels. However, in more severe cases, conventional approaches may be necessary.

Pharmaceutical and Surgical Options for PCOS

While medications for PCOS generally involve more risk, they can effectively balance hormones, alleviate symptoms, and restore ovulation, which may be especially beneficial for women who are trying to get pregnant. They range from combination birth control pills and androgen-blocking medications to ovulation-stimulating drugs and diabetes medication.

Women who want to conceive and did not respond well to lifestyle changes and medications might consider various surgical interventions.

The above approaches can be combined to create a treatment plan that best suits a woman's individual medical needs. While medications for PCOS do show high effectiveness in relieving symptoms and balancing hormones, women oftentimes prefer to rely on natural and side effect-free lifestyle changes and herbal supplements for ultimate relief.

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