PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

PCOS is an endocrine system disorder that can be difficult to diagnose at times, and is common for women who are within the reproductive ages to have. ¹ It’s estimated that between 8-10% of women are affected by PCOS, and among those affected by it, there is a high rate of infertility. Many women with PCOS have to turn towards various medical treatments in order to improve their chances at being able to conceive. ²

How do you know if you have PCOS?

Here are some symptoms that are commonly associated with PCOS:

           

·      Irregular cycles

·      Difficulty ovulating

·      Infertility

·      Excess level of androgens

·      Excess of facial and body hair

·      Acne

·      Male-pattern baldness

·      Polycystic Ovaries (Fluid-filled sacs/cysts)

·      Obesity (Not only a possible symptom, but can increase other symptoms as well)

·      Depression and Anxiety ³

Although PCOS has MANY unwanted and embarrassing symptoms that women are often ashamed of, the worst of them all for me was experiencing infertility and feeling as though my body was/is incapable of doing something so simple and yet so complex and miraculous as conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Never have I felt so little control over something in my life than I have while trying to start a family with my husband. 

Diagnostic Testing:

For me, getting diagnosed with PCOS was quite the process!  I don’t present with all of the “typical” symptoms of a woman with PCOS, so many doctors I saw would simply say, “It looks like you could have PCOS”, but it seemed as though no one wanted to be the one to confirm it.  It took about two years of self-advocating to have tests done, to finally get some answers.   It’s a little unusual to feel relief for receiving a diagnosis, but that’s exactly what I felt!  I could finally move forward with this information and figure out the next steps to take. 

Some of the diagnostic testing included:

·      A transvaginal ultrasound (looking for enlarged ovaries and cysts)

·      Blood tests (looking at hormone levels such as testosterone levels, Anti-Mullerian Hormone, FSH, Thyroid, etc.)

·      Physical exams

·      Glucose/Insulin testing

·      Hysterosalpinography (HSG)

What can cause PCOS?

Although the cause for PCOS isn’t known for sure, it’s thought to be a combination of a few factors including genetics, insulin resistance, and diet.   Insulin resistance impairs a woman’s ability to use glucose (sugar) and causes the pancreas to create more. In addition, an unhealthy diet adds to the problem, as the body doesn’t know what to do with the extra sugars and unhealthy carbs that are added to the equation. ⁴

Taking the next step:         

Being diagnosed with PCOS can be overwhelming, as well as having any other infertility diagnosis, but fortunately there are plenty of resources online and doctors who specialize in infertility that can help inform us of different treatments and give us better knowledge on how to live a healthy lifestyle in order to greatly improve our chances of starting a family. 

-Rachel

           

References

¹ Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, September 3).  Definition.  Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/basics/definition/con-20028841

² Sherbahn, Richard.  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS and Infertility and Pregnancy What is PCOS Syndrome? Retrieved from http://www.advancedfertility.com/pcos.htm

³ Mayo Clinic Staff.

⁴ Mayo Clinic Staff.