What is PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

Have you ever heard of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? If not, you are certainly not alone. Unfortunately, many women have not heard about PCOS, but they may find themselves facing it. The truth is that by educating yourself about PCOS you will have the knowledge that you need to best handle your overall health and well being.

Unfortunately, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome does not always have very specific or very consistent symptoms. However, that does not mean that there are no symptoms for you to be looking out for. In fact, one of the biggest indications that you may be suffering from PCOS is if you tend to have irregular or delayed menstrual cycles. Another very common symptom is a significant growth in body hair. This is brought about because of an increase in your body's androgen levels.

Additionally unexpected weight gain and/or obesity can be an indication of ovarian cysts. There is some speculation as to whether obesity and weight gain are a symptom of PCOS or a cause, and the truth is that there is no conclusive answer to this. There has been research that goes both ways, but some of the most recent research has indicated that the weight gain or excessive body weight may actually be a cause of the syndrome.

Perhaps one of the most devastating side effects is that it can have a negative effect on your fertility. This may mean that it is simply difficult for you to conceive and carry a child, or it may mean that you will find yourself infertile.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome occurs because there are many different small cysts in your ovaries. Again, there is no pinpointed cause, but it is widely accepted that PCOS is brought about by a hormonal imbalance. Additionally, PCOS is very common. So common that one out of every fifteen women will have PCOS. Unfortunately, because the symptoms are so vague it often goes undiagnosed. However, if you have regular gynecological exams and pay attention to your body's signals you may be able to catch PCOS in its early onset stage, which increases the effectiveness of any treatment plan.

One of the most effective treatment plans has actually been the birth control pill. This may be an option if you are not looking to get pregnant. It is a great option because generally there aren't many side effects associated with taking it. For women who do not think that birth control is an option for them there is progesterone therapy. This will not preclude you from getting pregnant, but like birth control it may lower your risk of uterine cancer.

However, not all treatments need to be medical when it comes to treating ovarian cysts. In fact, many doctors may suggest that you simply try to lose weight to help treat your PCOS. The truth is that your individual treatment plan will be largely impacted by what type of symptoms you are experiencing and what your overall health goals are. However, before you determine your treatment plan you will want to meet with your doctor to discuss your options.

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