3 Overlooked Signs Of PCOS
When it comes to a woman's reproductive health, most think that all of the signs that there is something wrong takes place down below. While that is true in a lot of cases, it is not true for women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Even though most women will develop benign ovarian cysts at least once in their lives, women with PCOS develop recurrent ovarian cysts as a result of hormone imbalances. There are many signs and symptoms of PCOS, but here are three of the most commonly overlooked symptoms.
1. Excessive facial and body hair.
Excessive facial and body hair, also called hirsutism, is one symptom of PCOS that gets overlooked a lot. After all, it is an embarrassing problem that not many women want to talk about with anyone, especially their doctor. They simply want to wax, pluck, or shave it off and get on with life. However, it is important that you divulge this symptom with your doctor if you have it.
The hormonal imbalance is the reason that women with PCOS develop hirsutism. Women who have PCOS develop more androgens, which are male hormones, than is needed. These androgens then cause the same hair growth for women that they do for men, that is why the excessive hair shows up on the face, chest, back, and neck. As you can imagine, it is a distressing problem to have, but letting your doctor know about it can be the first step to getting proper treatment for the condition.
2. Adult acne.
Acne is distressing enough when you are a teenager. After you become an adult, you would probably like to think you won't get it anymore. However, if you find that you are still experiencing regular breakouts just like a teenager would, you may want to consider asking your doctor about PCOS.
Much like with hirsutism, the likely culprit in your adult acne is also the production of excessive androgens in your body. Once you get a diagnosis from your doctor, you can get your adult acne treated more effectively than just with over-the-counter acne products.
3. Difficulty losing weight.
Many women who have PCOS are overweight—some are even obese. Because PCOS is linked to insulin-resistance, having the condition can make it extremely difficult to lose weight. Why is that? Insulin is used by the body to change sugars and starches from the foods you eat to energy. If you are resistant to insulin, then this won't happen. Instead, the insulin and sugars will build up in your body and can lead to other health problems, like type 2 diabetes, and can even worsen your other PCOS symptoms by further increasing your androgen levels.
If you can't find the energy to exercise so you can lose weight, it can be easy to dismiss that as you just being lazy. However, you should let a doctor at a clinic like Women First OBGYN know about it. Again, getting the diagnosis and proper treatment can make a world of difference in your life and help you get back on track to being healthy.
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