POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS)

What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) happens when a small amount of fluid accumulates in the pituitary gland, also called an ovarian cyst, and continues to expand into all parts of the body. A thin wall of cells called follicles begins to grow out and make healthy blood. Eventually, these follicles give way to the fluid that has accumulated as septage throughout the entire ovary, or "pockets" filled with it. This fluid then travels through the lower portion of the fallopian tube and is excreted by uterine contraction, causing a woman's body to become bloated and painful. The symptoms of PCOS often appear around age 40 or older, but it is possible for women younger than 40 to develop the condition when they are pregnant or during puberty, usually starting between 20 – and 30 years of age.

Symptoms in Women Under 40s:

If you have PCOS (and you have a medical provider who has not received a letter about this), you likely don't even notice you're having PCOS until it affects your quality of life, such as:

You need to use C-sections more often than you'd like to be able to get another normal pregnancy so that you can have time and space for other people.

You feel less than physical pain (especially in some cases), but the pain is still pretty severe when you do things to help relieve this pressure. Your abdominal muscle cramp goes away, but not quickly, giving you moments of relief that are brief but unbearable. You also gain weight if you eat foods high in fat and sugar. These may seem like minor changes, but they happen quite frequently without any noticeable outward effects.

Your partner doesn't want to hear about this and won't understand why you hate them. It makes your family angry and angry at you. You don't know why and nobody seems to know any better. Nobody is able to ask you how you truly feel but it feels like it. I've been told I don't deserve my own skin because I am different. But I just hope I get that someday soon.

Your menstrual cycle is completely irregular, and so is your period. If your body can't produce any egg or sperm, you cannot survive. You can only conceive a baby once every couple of years, which means you either have to wait 5 to 6 months or you simply never wake up. In most cases, you will go through cycles of low egg count, followed by periods of no egg. And yet, your uterus holds onto a large amount of fluid, making pregnancy (and possibly breast milk production) very difficult.

What Causes PCOS?

The exact cause of PCOS isn't known, but there are many risk factors that can affect an embryo or fetus. They include age, sex, genes, certain medications, heavy metals/drugs, excess weight, thyroid problems, and chronic diseases—including, but not limited to, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, liver issues, and obesity. Although rare, PCOS has been linked to several genes, including DCCT1 and DCCT2. Other risk factors are obesity, smoking, and drinking alcohol, especially excessive amounts of alcohol.

There has been a lot of research done on PCOS. Not much of it is
good enough that we can say we have found a cure yet, but there is still a long road ahead of us. Doctors who specialize in ovarian disorders are currently looking for ways to diagnose this condition, whether or not they can find one. Even now, there's not much reliable information on PCOS. Studies show that symptoms may vary from person to person and that many women feel symptoms similar to those of premenstrual syndrome, but they are far more common in women under 40. There are also a number of medications that may cause side effects that you wouldn't expect. One medication called metformin, which sometimes can lead to weight loss, can cause significant weight gain around the abdomen, and also cause bloating and nausea during the next period of your menstrual cycle. Another might involve ZYGRAF® (tobacco withdrawal symptoms). Many women will experience irritability and insomnia along with headaches, fatigue, or poor memory. This last symptom only occurs after you stop taking the medicine, so don't worry about it too much.