Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

If you have irregular periods, unexplained weight gain or excess hair growth, you may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This hormonal imbalance affects millions of people, impacting the reproductive system and overall health. While there’s no cure, the right treatments can help manage symptoms and improve your well-being.

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects your reproductive system, metabolism and overall health.

It is caused by your ovaries producing excess hormones, leading to hormonal imbalances that can cause irregular periods, ovarian cysts and difficulty ovulating.

While the exact cause of PCOS isn’t fully understood, factors like insulin resistance, abnormal hormone levels and adrenal gland function may contribute to you getting PCOS.

What hormones contribute to PCOS?

Several hormones play a role in PCOS, contributing to symptoms such as irregular periods, excess hair growth and weight gain. Entre estos están:

• Androgens (male hormones): PCOS causes you to have abnormal levels of testosterone, leading to symptoms such as acne, excess hair growth and hair thinning.
• Insulin: Many people with PCOS have insulin resistance, meaning their body doesn’t use insulin effectively. This can lead to high insulin levels, which may contribute to weight gain and increased testosterone production.
• Luteinizing hormone (LH): This hormone stimulates ovulation. In PCOS, LH levels may be elevated, which can disrupt your normal ovulation cycle and contribute to infertility.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): FSH helps regulate egg development in the ovaries. If you have PCOS, your FSH levels are often lower than normal, making it harder for your eggs to be able to become fertilized.
• Progesterone: Low progesterone levels in PCOS can cause irregular or missed periods.
• Estrogen: While estrogen levels may be normal or slightly elevated with PCOS, hormonal imbalances can disrupt the menstrual cycle and affect your reproductive health.

Since PCOS is a hormonal disorder, managing these imbalances through lifestyle changes and medication can help improve symptoms.

What are PCOS symptoms?

PCOS symptoms can vary in each person, but common PCOS symptoms include:

• Irregular or missed periods
• Excess hair growth on the face and body
• Acne and oily skin
• Weight gain, especially around the midsection
• Thinning hair or hair loss
• Skin darkening in certain areas
• Dificultad para quedar embarazada

What worsens PCOS?

Certain factors can make PCOS symptoms worse, including:

• Insulin resistance: When your body doesn’t use insulin the way it’s supposed to, it can cause your insulin levels to spike and lower your blood sugar and cause your body to produce more testosterone, which makes symptoms such as excess hair growth, acne and weight gain worse.
• Poor diet: Diets high in processed foods and sugars can contribute to weight gain and blood sugar spikes, making PCOS symptoms harder to manage.
• Lack of physical activity: Exercise helps regulate your hormones. If you don’t exercise regularly, it can worsen PCOS symptoms.
• High stress levels: Chronic stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol, which causes an imbalance of androgens and insulin.
• Desequilibrios hormonales: PCOS already involves abnormal hormone levels, but factors like sleep disturbances, adrenal gland dysfunction or other endocrine disorders can further disrupt the hormone balance.
• Weight gain: Excess weight, especially around the belly, can increase insulin resistance and inflammation, leading to more severe PCOS symptoms.

Making lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing stress and following your doctor’s treatment plan can help reduce PCOS symptoms.

How is PCOS diagnosed?

Your doctor will do a review of your medical history, conduct a physical exam and order tests to check hormone levels and ovarian health. Since PCOS symptoms can overlap with other conditions, your doctor may rule out other possible causes before confirming a diagnosis.

Your doctor will ask about your menstrual cycle, symptoms such as irregular or missed periods, weight changes and signs of excess hormones such as acne or excess hair growth.

Your doctor will order blood tests to measure hormone levels and check for imbalances. Blood tests may also check blood sugar and cholesterol levels to assess risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

A transvaginal ultrasound may be used to examine the ovaries for cysts and assess the thickness of the uterine lining.

Is PCOS linked to other conditions?

If PCOS is left untreated or unmanaged, it can lead to several complications, including:

• Esterilidad
• Diabetes tipo 2
• Enfermedad cardíaca
• Apnea del sueño
• Endometrial cancer
• Depresión
• Ansiedad
• Esteatosis hepática (hígado graso)

Can you still get pregnant if you have PCOS?

You can still get pregnant if you have PCOS, but it may be more challenging due to irregular ovulation or lack of ovulation.

Many people with PCOS successfully conceive with the right treatments and lifestyle changes. Some ways to improve fertility with PCOS include:

• Cambios en el estilo de vida: Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly can help regulate hormones and improve ovulation.
• Medicamentos: Your doctor may prescribe medications to stimulate ovulation and regulate your menstrual cycle, such as birth control pills.
• Fertility treatments: If medications don’t work, fertility treatments such as ovarian drilling, intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be recommended.
• Managing stress: High stress levels can disrupt hormones, so practices like yoga, meditation and good sleep habits may help.

While PCOS can make it harder to conceive, many people go on to have healthy pregnancies. If you’re trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about PCOS treatment options to help improve fertility.

PCOS treatments & medications

There is no cure for PCOS, so PCOS treatment focuses on managing your symptoms and improving your overall health. Your doctor will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan. Some treatment options may include:

• Birth control pills to regulate hormones
• Medications to reduce excess hormones and improve ovulation
• Diet and exercise to support PCOS weight loss
• Insulin-sensitizing medications for those with insulin resistance