Let’s talk about PCOS

PCOS- Polycystic ovary syndrome is something I only came to know about a few years ago (roughly 2 years ago) via Twitter. I may be wrong, but I find that it is under-discussed, and that’s a bit worrisome, that something so common and considerably harmful is not talked about more.

PCOS has been around for decades. It was first identified in 1721 by an Italian physician, Antonio Vallisneri, who described its symptoms.

Studies like this one by March and colleagues showed that up to 70% of women who had PCOS had not received a diagnosis. Considering how much is not known about PCOS, the lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria, and the seeming overall lack of awareness surrounding it, the statistical reality of its prevalence is probably a lot scarier. Simply put, many women may have PCOS and not know it.

So, What is PCOS?

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that is common to women in their reproductive or childbearing years. It affects the ovaries and ovulation.

The ovaries are the primary female reproductive structures that make the egg that is released each month as part of a healthy menstrual cycle. Women with PCOS have hormonal imbalances that alter the normal or expected functioning of ovaries.

PCOS develops when the ovaries or adrenal glands produce excess ‘male hormones’ (androgen), causing symptoms like irregular periods (or no periods) or pain during a period.

Symptoms

For some women, symptoms of PCOS develop around the time of the first menstrual period during puberty while others only discover they have PCOS after they’ve gained a lot of weight or they’ve had trouble getting pregnant.

Some of the most common symptoms of PCOS include:

Irregular periods: Some women with PCOS get fewer than eight periods a year or none at all
Heavy bleeding: Periods can become heavier than normal.
Hair growth: More than 70 percent of women with this condition grow hair on their face and body — including on their back, belly, and chest.
Acne: Excess levels of male hormones can make the skin oilier than usual and cause breakouts on areas like the face, chest, and upper back.
Weight gain: Up to 80 percent of women with PCOS are overweight or have obesity.
Male pattern baldness: Hair on the scalp gets thinner and may fall out.
Darkening of the skin: Dark patches of skin can form in body creases like those on the neck, in the groin, and under the breasts.
Headaches: Hormone changes can trigger headaches in some women.

source

Health risks or complications associated with PCOS include:

Infertility
Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
Miscarriage or premature birth
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis — a severe liver inflammation caused by fat accumulation in the liver
Metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that significantly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease
Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes
Sleep apnea
Depression, anxiety and eating disorders
Abnormal uterine bleeding
Cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer)

Obesity is associated with PCOS and can worsen complications of the disorder.

Causes

The exact cause of PCOS isn’t known. Factors that might play a role include:

Excess insulin. Insulin is the hormone produced in the pancreas that allows cells to use sugar, your body’s primary energy supply. If your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, then your blood sugar levels can rise and your body might produce more insulin. Excess insulin might increase androgen production, causing difficulty with ovulation.
Low-grade inflammation. This term is used to describe white blood cells’ production of substances to fight infection. Research has shown that women with PCOS have a type of low-grade inflammation that stimulates polycystic ovaries to produce androgens, which can lead to heart and blood vessel problems.
Heredity. Research suggests that certain genes might be linked to PCOS.
Excess androgen. The ovaries produce abnormally high levels of androgen, resulting in hirsutism and acne.

sources

I would implore you to read more on the topic. I provided some links below to assist with this. There is a lot of information already out there, in papers and articles, but ultimately more inclusive research is needed on the condition.

I digress (as frustration sets in), I think we need to be more deliberate in caring for women and women’s bodies. We are learning/unlearning the effects of and how to navigate biases, gender disparities, racial disparities, and all kinds of things, which is great. It’s just, women are going through so much physical, mental, and overall toil that don’t seem to have long-lasting solutions.
It is taking too much time for us to care enough.
Anyway, stay prayed up and be as healthy as you can be.