Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (POS)

By Melanie McGrath

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common health problem that affects teenage girls and young women. Although no one really know what causes PCOS, it seems to be related to an imbalance in female hormones. Both males and females produce sex hormones, but in different amounts. In girls, the ovaries produce the hormones estrogen, progesterone and also androgens. These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Even though androgens are sometimes referred to as male hormones, every female produces them[i].

In girls with PCOS, the ovaries produce higher than normal amounts of androgens, and this can interfere with egg development and release. Some of the eggs develop into cysts, which are little sacs filled with liquid. Instead of being released during ovulation, as an egg is during normal menstrual cycle, the cysts build up in the ovaries and may become enlarged. Because girls with PCOS are not ovulating or releasing an egg each month, it’s common for them to have irregular or missed periods.

PCOS is the most common hormone disorder that affects women of childbearing age. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, PCOS affects approximately one in ten women of childbearing age. The condition can occur in girls as young as eleven years old. Overall incidence is higher in women who are Native American and Hispanic than in Caucasian and African American women[ii].

Common signs and symptoms that may indicate PCOS include very heavy periods or periods that come more than once a month, weight gain, obesity, or difficulty maintaining a normal weight. A condition called hirsutism, where a girl grows extra hair on her face, chest, abdomen, nipple area or back. Thinning hair on the head, acnes and clogged pores, darkened, thickened skin around the neck, armpits or breasts and high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. The good news is that, although there’s no cure for PCOS, it can be treated. The most important step is diagnosing the condition, because getting treatment for PCOS reduces a girl’s chances of having serious side effects[iii].

Women with PCOS have greater chances of developing several serious, life-threatening diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Recent studies found that more than fifty percent of women with PCOS will have diabetes or pre-diabetes before the age of forty. Women with PCOS have a four to seven times higher risk of heart attack than women of the same age without PCOS. Women with PCOS are at greater risk of having high blood pressure. Women with PCOS have high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol[iv].

Once you are diagnosed with PCOS, you can begin any number of treatments depending on the specific symptoms you are experiencing, your age, and your plans regarding pregnancy. Treatment options include birth control pills, which contain female hormones that help regulate menstrual cycles. Contraceptives also help lower levels of androgens, reducing abnormal hair growth and improving acne. Another treatment option is ovulation induction, which releases an egg, which is necessary in becoming pregnant. Androgen-blocking medications can be used to treat several symptoms including excess hair growth and acne. Proper nutrition and exercise are both critical in PCOS because both help the body use insulin more effectively and it’s good for your health no matter what[v]. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms talk with your doctor and ask for a test that would determine if you have PCOS.

Sources:
[i] Womenshealth.gov (2008) ‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome’ http://www.4women.gov/faq/pcos.htm
[ii] womenshealthchannel (2007) ‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome’ http://www.womenshealthchannel.com/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/index.shtml
[iii] Medicinenet.com (2008) ‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome’ http://www.medicinenet.com/polycystic_ovary/article.htm
[iv] CNN (2008) ‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome’ http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/DS00423.html
[v] The Hormone Foundation (2008) ‘Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment options’ http://www.hormone.org/Polycystic/treatment.cfm