5 Signs You May Be Suffering From PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS is unfortunately an all too common endocrine disorder that affects many women, and is one of the major causes of infertility. Women who have this condition may have ovaries that are enlarged with follicles or small fluid collections in each ovary. PCOS can eventually give rise to devastating conditions like type II Diabetes, uterine cancer and heart disease.

Surprisingly, many women live with this syndrome for years without suspecting anything, because it can be hidden by other conditions, like insulin resistance for example. Insulin resistance means that your body is not able to use insulin effectively; so the pancreas will produce excess insulin to ensure that your body cells get sufficient glucose for energy. Many of them find out when they are wondering why they are not able to conceive – and often it’s too late to do anything about it.

While this condition is not easy to deal with, it can be managed properly with early diagnosis. Sadly, this is one of the women’s health issues that are often missed during routine health checkups. Before it’s too late, you need to find out if you have PCOS, and take the steps towards managing this condition. If you exhibit any of the following symptoms (apart from difficulty in conceiving), it may be time to consult an experienced medical practitioner:

• Irregular menstrual cycle: Ideally, the menstrual cycle is 28 days; give or take a couple of days; if your cycle lasts more than 35 days, it is cause for suspicion. You may also experience heavy and longer periods, infrequent periods – lesser than 8 in a year, or periods more than 3-4 months apart.
• Manifestation of masculine features: This happens because your hormone production is imbalanced, and the male hormone Androgen in produced in excess. This can cause several things: excessive body hair, appearance of facial hair, deepening of the voice and male pattern baldness on the head.
• Excessive Acne: As your hormones are imbalanced, PCOS can also cause you to have excessive acne on your face, causing embarrassment and irritation; you may also see skin tags or skin darkening in patches.
• Higher blood sugar levels: Due to the insulin resistance, your blood sugar levels may shoot up requiring you to regularly test your sugar levels.
• Abdominal weight gain: This is another embarrassing and frustrating thing that can happen to women with PCOS – bulging bellies. Fat tends to settle down in the abdominal region because of the hormonal imbalance.

At the Young Naturopathic Center for Wellness, we perform comprehensive tests to determine the root cause of your illness. We can then put you on a personalized treatment plan based on your unique needs. So if you think you have any of these symptoms, you don’t need to continue to suffer. Book your complimentary consultation with our patient care concierge who will direct you to the doctor who can help you with your condition and live a healthier life.