Not all women with PCOS will have cysts, however. PCOS is called a syndrome because it manifests itself differently in each woman who suffers from it. Common symptoms include irregular or absent periods, anovulation, acne, hirsutism, male pattern baldness, brown skin patches, skin tags, obesity or weight gain, infertility, mood swings and depression. Long term health risks for PCOS sufferers can include endometrial cancer, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it’s believed that the underlying problem is insulin resistance, or an inability to process insulin efficiently. High levels of insulin in the PCOS sufferer stimulate the ovaries to produce high levels of androgens (male hormones such as testosterone), resulting in the typical PCOS symptoms and increased health risks listed above. There is no cure for PCOS, but many women are able to manage it through exercise, low-carbohydrate diets, and medications. Anyone who believes she may have PCOS should seek the care of a doctor, preferably an endocrinologist. In addition to medical care, natural family planning techniques can help women identify, understand, and manage PCOS.
Below is Laurie’s story of living with the challenges of PCOS. Many, many thanks to Laurie for sharing her personal story to help others. If you are living with PCOS, may you find yourself on a journey to health. If you are trying to conceive, may this be the month you are blessed. For more information on PCOS, including complete lists of symptoms, medications, diet and exercise recommendations, and support groups, please see the links at right under the heading “PCOS.”
************************************************************** As a teenager, Laurie had slightly irregular periods, but didn’t think much of it. When she got married in her early 20’s, she went on the pill for a year. When she came off the pill, she stopped ovulating and her period never came back. She also gained 50 pounds very quickly and started to see other signs of PCOS, like hair growth, irritability, and mood swings, but never tied them all together.
In the summer of 1995, Laurie and her husband decided to try to conceive a child. “I was very ignorant about the mechanics of getting pregnant,” says Laurie. “I guess I slept through that sex-ed class in 6th grade! I didn’t realize that I had to have my period show at least SOMEtimes for me to ovulate.”
