P COS stands for  Polycystic Ovary Syndrome . This is basically a hormonal endocrine disorder, explained by PCOS Foundation. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is defined to be a condition in which a woman’s levels of the sex hormones namely estrogen and progesterone are out of balance which further leads to the growth of ovarian cysts in females. PCOS can have adverse effect on women’s menstrual cycle, fertility, cardiac function, and appearance. It may also lead to imbalances in estrogen, progesterone and androgen hormones. In some of the cases,  PCOS may often cause fertility problems , and symptoms here typically starts during teen years, when a woman begins menstruating.
PCOS

Symptoms of PCOS

Few of the symptoms ofthe PCOS are listed as below
  • Problems in menstruating
  • Excessive body hair
  • Obesity
  • Acne
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Irregular menstruation cycle or heavy periods sometimes
  • Oily skin
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Infertility

Causes of PCOS

The exact cause of PCOS is have not been identified yet, but doctors have found few causes which result into this condition on the basis of their experience. Some of the causes identified by the doctors are as listed below:

  • Hormonal imbalances and genetics
  • Overproduction of the androgenhormone
    Androgen is a male sex hormone that is produced by females as well. Females with PCOS often produce higher-than-normal levels of androgen which can affect the development and release of eggs during ovulation.
  • Family History
  • Resistant to insulin produced internally
  • Day to day lifestyle
  • Overweight
    Symptoms of PCOS becomes prevalent when the patient has gained weight leading to irregularity in menstrual cycle and excessive hair growth.

How we can diagnose PCOS?

There is no particular test for PCOS. Whereas to do a complete diagnosis, your doctor view your medical history, symptoms and perform required tests.

Various test conducted in order to diagnose about PCOS are as mentioned below:

  • Blood tests to measure sex hormone levels
  • Thyroid function tests to determine the production of the thyroid hormone in your body
  • Fasting glucose tests to measure your blood sugar levels
  • Lipid level teststo assess the amount of cholesterol in your blood.

Complications of PCOS

Women suffering from PCOS have a higher risk of developing the below mentioned health problem as follows:

  • Infertility
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • High cholesterol
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Sleep apnea
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Heart attack
  • Diabetes
  • Breast cancer

Treatment

A person suffering from PCOS can only be treated, but there is no cure so as to eliminate it completely. Treatment focuses more on symptoms and management of the condition to prevent complications. The treatment varies from woman to woman, depending on specific symptoms they show. Few steps which can be taken into practice to avoid the symptoms of PCOS include:

Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet accompanied with regular exercise is recommended for all women with PCOS, and specifically over weighted women. This can help to regulate your menstrual cycle and lower your blood glucose levels.
Intake of birth control pills if not planning to become pregnant
Women who don’t want to become pregnant in that span of time should take birth control pills. These can further help to treat acne, regulate the menstrual cycle, and lower the levels of male hormones in the body.
Consult doctor about medications
Anti-androgens are drugs that reduce male hormone levels which avoid the symptoms of PCOS.
Surgery
Ovarian drilling surgery is highly recommended for some women suffering with PCOS.

Prior the diagnosis of PCOS is done the sooner it can be treated, thus reducing the complication the patient may face due to this. One should avoid the intake of tobacco products and incorporate regular exercise into your lifestyle to avoid the complications and overcome the condition of PCOS.