PCOS Symptoms
There are many symptoms of PCOS and not all are needed for a diagnosis to be made. The more symptoms you have though, the greater probability that you do indeed have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
- Infrequent or no periods. There may also be irregular bleeding between periods.
- Unable to get pregnant.
- Not ovulating. If you are following a Natural Family Planning method you can easily see by your charts that you have not ovulated. NFP teachers can also teach you the signs of ovulation.
- Excess hair on face, abdomen, chest, back, toes, thumbs. Some women have to shave their cheeks, chin, mustache due to excessive hair growth.
- Acne
- Dandruff
- Pelvic pain.
- Obesity with the majority of extra weight around the middle in the apple shape.
- Diabetes type 2
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Baldness or thinning hair
- Thickened or darkened skin on the arms, neck, breasts, thighs. They can be patches.
- Excess flaps of skin around the neck or under the arms
- Excessive snoring, sleep apnea, stop breathing while sleeping.
As you can see PCOS is comprised of many medical problems but when they occur together, PCOS may very well be the culprit.
There is no one test to diagnose PCOS so a variety of tests are needed to determine if PCOS might be the cause. An ultrasound will be done to determine if and how many cysts are on the ovaries. Blood tests will be taken to determine hormone levels, insulin levels, and cholesterol readings.
There is no cure for PCOS so symptoms will have to be managed. Birth control pills can regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce the levels of male hormones in the body and reduce acne. If the birth control pill is stopped, the symptoms will return.
The diabetic medicine Glucophage can help regulate insulin levels and reduce testosterone levels. The amount of excess hair should lessen and ovulation may return. Some people have developed lactic acidosis while taking Glucophage though, so its use is being brought into question. Lactic acidosis is a life threatening condition.
Fertility medicine can be taken to help conceive a child. However the chance of multiple births is greatly increased. A low sperm count and blocked fallopian tubes should be ruled out first before deciding to take fertility medications. Also IVF or in vitro fertilization could be an option to avoid fertility medicines.
If you’re not trying to get pregnant there are a few options to control hair growth and the production of male hormones. There is blood pressure medication that also decreases the effect of the male hormones on hair. Propecia is a medication specifically for hair loss. Permanent hair removal options such as laser hair removal and electrolysis are also effective. Hormones can also be taken to prevent new hair from growing.