Ovarian Cyst Free

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovarian disease or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition involving the disruption of the hormone production cycle causing a hormonal imbalance.

This may affect the menstrual cycle causing missed or irregular periods. The ability to have children can also be affected.

Five to ten percent of women of reproductive age are estimated to have PCOS. Many of these women are completely unaware of their condition. It’s believed that genetics play a role in the development of polycystic ovarian disease. If your mother or a sister has PCOS, you have a higher chance of having it yourself.

Polycystic ovarian disease causes the development of many small fluid filled sacs called cysts to grow in the ovaries. This happens because the ovary fails to produce all of the hormones required for it’s eggs to mature. Because no mature egg is formed, none is released and thus ovulation doesn’t happen. The hormone progesterone isn’t made and the left over follicles remain as cysts. These cysts also produce male hormones which further disrupt ovulation.

This increase in production of male sex hormones called androgens also causes unwanted changes in your appearance. These include acne, facial and body hair. Over time, PCOS can lead to problems with the heart and blood vessels.

There is also a link between insulin resistance and PCOS as follows: Insulin resistance is a condition where the body no longer responds properly to normal amounts of insulin. This leads to excess levels of insulin in the blood. The ovaries respond to this increased insulin by overproducing androgens (male hormones) which lead to PCOS symptoms.

PCOS places women at greater risk of developing a number of serious diseases that are potentially life threatening. These include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

Some statistics:

1.) Better than half of PCOS sufferers will become pre-diabetic or develop diabetes before age 40.

2.) A person with PCOS is four to seven times more likely to suffer from a heart attack than a healthy person of the same age.

3.) PCOS increases your risk of high blood pressure.

4.) PCOS elevates your bad cholesterol (LDL) and lowers your level of good cholesterol (HDL).

5.) Getting endometrial cancer is another risk. PCOS causes insufficient production of the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone the endometrium doesn’t shed its lining every month as a menstrual period. Over time, this causes the endometrium to become thick, leading to endometrial hyperplasia and cancer.