September is PCOS Awareness Month

1 September 2021

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It is important to note that September 1^st of every year marks the beginning of the PCOS awareness month. It is also the National PCOS Day. In 2020, the month kicks off with the PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association's ‘World PCOS Day of Unity' event. PCOS Awareness Month is a nationally recognized occasions that aim to help those afflicted with PCOS and their loved ones in overcoming the symptoms as well as other health issues they might face. The initiative hopes to prevent and reduce their risks for life-threatening diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

September is PCOS awareness month

You probably already heard the word PCOS from your female friend or colleague but might not fully understand the nature of it. Most women might only know this as an illness brought by an irregular period. That’s why it is important for us to know more about this. So, let’s try to raise awareness on what PCOS really is and how it can affect our health and well-being.

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a serious genetic condition that affects women and girls particularly their hormone, metabolic, and reproductive system. It's most prevalent result affects female fertility and a precedent to other diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular problems.

There are three characteristics that are commonly associated to women with PCOS. This includes missing or irregular menstrual cycles, high testosterone and androstenedione levels, meaning there are high number of androgens or male hormones in the women body, and numerous cystic areas on the ovaries.

Women who have PCOS are often under diagnosed since fewer than 25% of women with the condition are identified. In fact, based on the data of WomensHealth.gov, 10 percent of women who are in their reproductive age are affected with PCOS.

Unfortunately, over the last seven to eight years, PCOS' prevalence has increased exponentially, making it a fairly common gynecological condition in the modern world. The reason for this is due to the fusion of both genetic and environmental factors, making at least third of the women population who left the room for genetics were discovered to suffer from PCOS.

The Metabolic and Reproductive Disorder

PCOS-related metabolic problems are due to increased levels of androgens or male hormones. This can have very noticeable effects on the key peripheral metabolic tissues, including the adipose, liver, pancreas, muscle, and most prominently in the brain that then contributes to group of metabolic PCOS complications, including obesity and insulin resistance.

In terms of reproductive disorders, healthy women normally release one egg from their ovaries around the 15th day of their period, but this doesn't happen for women with PCOS. The egg becomes stuck in the ovary, and fluid gathers around it, creating a bubble-like structure called a cyst. Over time, many cysts develop that cause PCOS.

Symptoms and Causes

PCOS signs and symptoms first appear with the start of a girl's menstruation when she begins puberty. The PCOS diagnosis has sometimes been made later in a woman's life, when, for example, she has put on significant weight.

PCOS presents itself in many ways. You are diagnosed with PCOS if you exhibit two or more of these symptoms:

Irregular periods. The most prevalent symptom of PCOS is an irregular or extended menstrual cycle. You may experience anything from having a limited number of cycles to having an excessively long cycle in between your periods and much heavier periods than the average woman.

Excess androgen. Excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), as well as acne and baldness are all possible consequences of elevated levels of male hormones.

Polycystic ovaries. There may be many follicles clustered around your eggs, and the ovaries have become larger. This will likely cause the ovaries to stop working normally.

Some symptoms for PCOS that patients could experience are infertility, heavy periods with spotting in between, pelvic pain during and between your periods, mood swings, gaining weight, exhaustion or fatigue, hirsutism or the excessive hair growth on the arms, face, back, chest, abdomen, hands, or feet, hair loss or baldness, acne, and poor sleep or insomnia.

You should take note that PCOS signs and symptoms can be heightened for obese women.

Although the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, experts says that some of the factors that can cause it are excess insulin in the body, low-grade inflammation or low substance production of white blood cells to fight infection, heredity or genes, and excess androgen or male hormone.

4 Types of PCOS

1. Insulin Resistance PCOS

This happens in 70% of instances. Insulinoma, a disease in which cells become numb to insulin, is the source of this kind of PCOS. Its symptoms include weight growth in the stomach, sweets cravings, and exhaustion.

Its cure is doing exercise and movement more often. When possible, you should choose a diet that has a variety of nutritious, low-sugar foods. To control insulin levels, reduce stress and get plenty of sleep. These supplements may all be useful: magnesium, chromium, NAC, and inositol.

2. Adrenal PCOS

Stress is present in such huge quantities in this type of PCOS. High levels of cortisol and DHEA are both present as marked indicators.

You can treat this by getting better sleep, lessen stress, and do a few minutes of yoga and meditation each day. Don't do strenuous exercise. The adrenal glands and neurological system may be supported by magnesium, vitamin B5, and vitamin C.

3. Inflammatory PCOS

PCOS is the result of persistent inflammation. Excess testosterone causes PCOS because of unhealthy lifestyle and poor eating habits. Several symptoms include headaches, unexplained tiredness, skin problems such as eczema, and elevated C reactive protein levels (above 5).

To ensure a healthy gut, try to avoid eating anything that triggers inflammation. Eating foods like turmeric, omega 3 fatty acids, and antioxidants like NAC may help ease your inflammation.

4. Post-pill PCOS

Stopping the use of oral contraceptives leads to this occurrence as artificial progesterone causes a party in the ovaries when you stop taking the pill that can then caused PCOS. Taking the pills helps prevent symptoms, however symptoms may worsen when once stopped.

PCOS of this kind is short-term and reversible. For maximum success, sleep well and be less stressed. Many essential nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin B6, and zinc would be helpful for this type of PCOS.

The PCOS Challenge

pcos awareness month toolkit photo

PCOS Challenge, which supports and fights for over 50,000 members, is the top worldwide charity for women and girls who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It also devices a revolutionary television series that uses medical and health professionals to assist people with PCOS by teaching them about PCOS and helping them learn how to enhance their quality of life aside from its PCOS Awareness Symposium.

Wear a teal ribbon now and show your love and support to your friends, colleagues, or family members that are currently battling PCOS.