Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting approximately 11% of women, characterized by symptoms such as irregular periods, hirsutism, and elevated androgen levels. Diagnosis often involves physical examinations and tests due to the absence of a single definitive test, and while no cure exists, treatment typically focuses on lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to manage symptoms. PCOS can lead to various complications, including infertility and metabolic issues, highlighting the importance of early detection and management.

1. PCOS: What Is PCOS? Signs,
Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
& More

2. What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome, more commonly known as PCOS, is a
hormonal condition that is increasingly finding mention in
women health journals and lifestyle magazines. You must have
already read statistics such as one-in-every-ten or nearly 11%
have PCOS today.

3. A Brief History of PCOS
PCOS isn’t a new condition. Its symptoms were first described
and documented by the Italian physician Antonio Vallisneri in
1721.

4. Causes of PCOS
• High levels of androgens . Called male hormones, androgens
such as testosterone help regulate the function of many vital
organs, including the reproductive tract, bone, kidneys, liver
and muscle.
• High levels of insulin Several women with PCOS have been
diagnosed with insulin resistance, which is a condition where
the body’s cells fail to respond normally to insulin causing
complications such as Type-2 Diabetes.

5. Diagnosis of PCOS
In 1935, Stein and Leventhal described PCOS as a condition
found in several women displaying the common symptoms of
menstrual disturbances, hirsutism and enlarged ovaries with
many small follicles. As time progressed newer technologies
such as ultrasound imaging arrived and allowed for the easy
detection of ovarian cysts. While this provided for a
breakthrough moment in the diagnosis of PCOS it also had an
unexpected fallback. Several women who had cysts caused due
to other conditions were now diagnosed with PCOS, despite not
having any other symptoms (such as high levels of androgens or
elevated growth of body hair). In many country, especially Asian
and African ones, this trend still persists.

6. Continue..
However, there is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Thus, to rule
out other conditions and conclusively arrive at a diagnosis of
PCOS, your doctor may conduct various physical examinations
and medical tests. These would likely include:
• A physical exam
• A pelvic exam
• A pelvic ultrasound or sonogram
• Blood tests which could be used to check levels of male
hormones

7. Common Symptoms of PCOS
• Irregular periods due to interruptions in the process of
ovulation.
• Heavy bleeding due to the building up of the uterine lining.
• Elevated hair growth, a phenomenon called hirsutism, due to
which women experience the growth of hair on their back,
belly, chest and face.
• Male hormones cause the eruption of acne, oily skin and
breakouts of pimples on the face, chest and upper back.
• Darkening of the skin and dark patches on the neck, groin area
and under the breasts.
• Weight gain due to changes in insulin levels in the body
• Male pattern baldness.
• Headaches and, in some cases, even migraines.

8. Complications caused by
PCOS
• Infertility
• Sleep apnea
• Metabolic issues
• Endometrial cancer
• Mental illness

9. PCOS Diet and Treatment
• Unfortunately, despite active research, no comprehensive
treatment to cure PCOS has been found yet. Your doctor
would normally recommend lifestyle changes such as weight
loss through exercise and changes in diet. According to some
studies, using just 5% of your body weight can help regulate
your menstrual cycle, improve cholesterol levels and reduce
risks of diabetes and heart disease.
• Various studies recommend low-carb diets as effective means
to lower insulin levels and trigger weight loss, especially when
the latter seems sluggish. Diets that are low in glycemic acid
and high in iron have been found to work better than
commercial weight-loss diets. Meanwhile, even 30-min of
moderate intensity exercise can help regulate ovulation and
push sluggish fat from problem areas.

10. Thank You!
By Riopads
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