Signs You May Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The name polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is slightly misleading. Yes, there can be cysts that develop on your ovaries, but the real issue is a hormone imbalance that can lead to a wide range of symptoms.

PCOS affects between 5 million and 6 million women in the United States, and no two of these women follow the exact same symptom path.

To give you a clearer idea about the possible side effects of PCOS, the experienced team of women’s health experts at Kinwest OBGYN shares some basics about this condition, including some of the more commonly shared symptoms.

Behind PCOS

As noted, at the heart of PCOS is a hormone imbalance. Under normal circumstances, women have more of what we consider to be female hormones, namely estrogen and progesterone. Women do have some male hormones (androgens), but in far lesser amounts than in men.

With PCOS, there’s an imbalance in these reproductive hormones — androgen levels are higher than normal — that can lead to issues with ovulation. More specifically, your eggs might not develop properly or there might be issues with releasing the eggs. As a result, you can be left with numerous cysts on your ovaries, which is where PCOS gets its name.

We’re not sure why this hormone imbalance develops — some women simply have higher levels of androgen hormones. Research has indicated a connection between PCOS and insulin resistance.

Common side effects of PCOS

The hormone imbalance that’s at the root of PCOS can lead to a wide range of symptoms, but some are more common than others. We outline those here.

Irregular periods

With the disruption in ovulation with PCOS, your menstrual cycles can become irregular, which includes skipped periods, no periods, and heavy bleeding during periods.

Infertility

Because PCOS directly affects ovulation, the condition is one of the most common causes of female infertility.

Hair growth

The reason men have more body hair is due to androgens. When a woman’s androgen hormone levels are high, she can develop body and facial hair, a condition known as hirsutism. More frustrating still, some women gain body hair but lose hair on their scalps.

Acne

Women with PCOS often struggle with acne, on the face and on the body. As well, your skin can become overly oily.

Weight gain

The imbalance in your reproductive hormone levels can lead to weight gain and difficulty losing weight.

We diagnose and treat PCOS

As you can see, the potential side effects of PCOS are varied, and each on its own may not get your attention. Taken together, however, these irregularities can point to PCOS.

The good news is that there are ways to restore hormonal balance and address PCOS. For expert diagnosis and treatment of this common condition, please contact one of our offices — in Dallas or Irving, Texas — to schedule an appointment.