Jillian Wilson is the senior wellness reporter at HuffPost, where she covers mental health, physical health and debunks the health misinformation that's so rampant online.
HuffPost turns reader contributions into real-world impact – uncovering injustice, challenging power, and inspiring change. Become a member and be part of the work that matters. Roughly 5 million people have PCOS, a hormonal imbalance that can lead to many issues, including infertility.
Our bodies contain a delicate balance of hormones ― and when that’s out of whack, it can lead to trouble for some people who menstruate. PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, impacts millions of people, resulting in a host of different issues that may not seem connected at first. According to“Specifically, people with PCOS have abnormally high levels of androgen hormones , which can disrupt the balance of hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle and prevent ovulation,” she said., a family medicine physician in Kansas, added that “in PCOS, multiple small follicles or cysts develop along the edge of the ovary,” making it difficult for the ovaries to regularly release eggs. This can result in a lack of ovulation when this happens. Unfortunately, PCOS can be difficult to diagnose because of the vast symptoms that accompany it, and often becomes a larger and more stressful problem when someone is trying to conceive. Here are some of the most common signs of PCOS, according to experts:Most people with PCOS have irregular periods. Sometimes this means having periods that last longer than most, and it often means having fewer than normal periods a year,” she said. That can mean having more than 35 days between periods, Oller added. The average time between periods is 28 days, but a normal range can be anywhere from 21 to 35The high levels of androgen hormones caused by PCOS can lead to an increase in facial and body hair, which is known as hirsutism, according to Thomas-White. People with hirsutism will likely notice that this facial and body hair looks different from the hair that’s elsewhere on the body., and occurs in places that typically are associated with male hair growth ― the back, chest and areas on the face like the chin and upper lip.On the other hand, hair thinning can be a sign of PCOS, too While an influx of hair in places like the face is common among people with PCOS, it is also common for the opposite to happen.Hair loss in women looks different than it does in men — women likely won’t experience a receding hairline. Instead, the hair thinning normally starts along the part and generally happens at the top of the head,“It is often difficult to get pregnant with PCOS because periods are irregular and ovulation does not frequently occur,” Oller explained. Generally, people who want to become pregnant track ovulation because it signifies that an egg has been released and is a sign that one is at. The high amount of androgen in the body makes ovulation harder and less frequent in people with PCOS, Oller said. This is why many people discover something may be wrong when they’re actively trying.During a breakout, it can be hard to determine the cause behind acne — is it a change in face wash? Dirty makeup brushes? Hormone-driven acne before a period? Now, you have one more avenue to explore., an associate professor in the department of gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine, many people with PCOS struggle with acne. “Acne is really common in a lot of young patients, but patients with PCOS tend to have more severe acne and then it persists even as get older,” Hipp said., some people who have PCOS will notice skin tags, which are “little flaps of extra skin.” They can sometimes look like enlarged freckles or small moles, and for people with PCOS, they are likely to be found on the neck or in the armpits.“Certain genes may also be linked to PCOS, which means a family history may increase your chance” of having the condition, Oller said. She noted that having a female first-degree relative with PCOS increases the chance that it’ll be passed on to you, however, Oller noted “it is a complex genetic trait,” which could mean it can be passed down elsewhere, too.Hipp added that a strong family history of diabetes in male or female relatives could also mean you’re more likely to have PCOS.According to Hipp, weight gain and trouble losing weight are common signs of PCOS. “About 80% of patients with PCOS do struggle with weight and have a hard time losing weight that’s gained,” Hipp said. But, she noted that PCOS looks different from person to person, so not all people with the condition have weight management problems or experience weight gain.Plus, it’s often a pretty isolating condition — like many women’s health issues, it’s not talked about a lot.HuffPost stands apart because we report for the people, not the powerful. Our journalism is fearless, inclusive, and unfiltered. Join the membership program and help strengthen news that puts people first.Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever.Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever.It’s a common condition, affecting roughly 5 million people of childbearing age in the U.S., according to Thomas-White, but is hard to diagnose because of the vague symptoms that can also point to other issues and the overall lack of research on women’s health.But, there are treatments for this hormonal imbalance, including treatments that can help you get pregnant. “It’s important to advocate for yourself and find a trusted physician that can help diagnose and manage the condition,” she added.By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our
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