Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOs) is a hormonal, metabolic, reproductive and genetic disorder. PCOS is a significant cause that leads infertility in a woman. PCOS can leave lots of other effects in a woman such as liver disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, anxiety and much more.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that affects hormone’s level in a woman. If a woman produces a larger amount of male hormones, in such a case, a woman can have Polycystic ovary syndrome. Some studies had proven that women with  PCOS are at higher risk of cancer than a normal woman. A woman with Polycystic ovary syndrome has a three times higher risk of getting endometrial cancer, four times higher risk of getting breast cancer and twice the high risk of suffering from ovarian cancer. Because of its effects such as depression, anxiety, stress, a woman with Polycystic ovary syndrome is seven times more likely to attempt suicide. A study has been conducted on this correlation

Effects

PCOS does not only affect a woman’s ovary or just cause infertility, but it  affects a woman in many other ways.

Here is a list of effects caused by PCOS

• Increased heart diseases:Women with PCOS are more likely to get cholesterol abnormalities such as high LDL and Low HDL (bad cholesterol and good cholesterol). These cholesterol abnormalities are the main cause that increase the risk of getting heart diseases.
• Type 2 diabetes: According to CDC, 50 percent of woman older than 40 that have polycystic ovary syndrome develop type 2 diabetes.
• Sleep apnea:This is a stage in which a woman face pauses in breathing during sleep. This condition enhances the risk of heart disease and type-2 diabetes as well.
• Endometrial cancer:Woman with PCOC has a great risk of getting cancer of the uterine lining. There is a three times highe risk of getting endometrial cancer for a woman with PCOS.
• Anxiety and stress:These are the most common effects faced by a woman with PCOS. Stress leads to depression which can sometimes become more dangerous.
• High blood pressure:Women with PCOS are at a higher risk of having high blood pressure. This also affect kidneys, heart, and brain.
• Cardiovascular disease:Woman with PCOS could have a higher C-reactive protein levels which causes cardiovascular disease.

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects women in various ways which could have serious health consequences overall.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a complex condition caused by an increased level of androgen (male) hormones. This results in menstrual irregularities. This hormonal imbalance causes irregular menstrual cycles which often cause infertility in woman.

Symptoms 

PCOS cause hair growth on the face and body or can say unwanted hair growth. It can also cause baldness. It can also enhance the risk of getting heart disease and diabetes. PCOS is a problem with hormones that can affect a woman during their childbearing years. It affects a woman between 15 years to 44 years.

Here is a list of some common signs and symptoms 

Acne or oily skin, infertility, irregular menstrual periods, Hirsutism (unwanted hair growth on face and body parts), ovaries having cysts, ovaries that are enlarged, obesity, weight gain, thinning of hair and baldness, thick dark patches on skin such as on the neck, breast, arms, thighs and pelvic pain are  some common symptoms of PCOS.

Possible Causes of PCOS 

There is no exact cause of PCOS. Doctors don’t know the exact cause of PCOS. Some believe that the main cause of PCOS is the high level of male hormones which prevents ovaries from making eggs and producing hormones. Insulin resistance and genes are other causes of PCOS which cause the excessive androgen production.

• Insulin resistance 

The cells of a woman with PCOS can’t produce insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by pancreases in the body to help the body use sugar coming from food. When cells can’t use insulin properly, the body will demand more insulin which can’t be compensated. This triggers the body to produce more male hormones in a body.

• Genes 

Various studies have concluded that PCOS is hereditary.

• Obesity 

Obesity is one another cause of PCOS which also increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease.

Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 

There is no possibility to alleviate all the symptoms at once. That is why first the doctor will ask you “your primary concert related to PCOS” and then treat you. For example if the main concern of a woman is unwanted hair growth then a doctor might prescribe birth control pills to reduce the number of androgens. However, in case a woman wants to get pregnant then this would not be a great option. Thus the treatment would be given as per the concern of the woman.

Birth control pills, anti-obesity drugs, Diabetes medication, and fertility medications are some most commonly used treatments for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.