What Every Woman and Girl needs to Know about PCOS and Why

Author: Ashley Levinson

PCOS Awareness Advocate Ashley Levinson, after over ten years of service to the PCOS Community is aggressively campaigning for more awareness, exposure and education for PCOS( Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) For Ashley who was diagnosed with PCOS in 1999, PCOS Awareness has been played a key role in helping her learn to live and deal with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Ashley says, "PCOS Awareness has to happen now to ensure women and girls do not have to go through another day, month or year of silent suffering." Up to 10% of women and girls worldwide have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex hormonal disorder for which there is no cure. However, with proper education, diagnosis and treatment, effective management is possible. For many, like Ms. Levinson Polycystic Ovary Syndrome means having to face daily battles with a range of symptoms that can vary from woman to woman such as infertility, dark skin patches, obesity, acne, hair loss, excess facial and body hair and skin tags.

PCOS is a physical and emotional drain on many individuals with the syndrome due to the devastating external manifestations and hormonal imbalances produced as a result of this syndrome?, says Ms. Levinson. Many women with PCOS are insulin resistant, a condition that raises the level of insulin circulating in the body and in many cases causes women with PCOS to become overweight or obese. If left untreated PCOS can be a precursor to many life threatening conditions including type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney problems. This means PCOS contributes to some of the leading causes of death and disability in women today! Ashley plans to incite, inspire and empower the PCOS Community to speak very openly about their struggles, symptoms, and trials to overcome the illness, to help other women and girls understand the syndrome and seek the proper resources to help them manage their lives with PCOS. She hopes to be a driving force in changing the way the public, media and government views PCOS education, treatment and coverage for medical procedures and treatments, as a result of PCOS. " I find it very unsettling that male impotence medications are covered by most insurance companies but, women who have a legitimate endocrine disorder that requires the care of a doctor and specific medications have to struggle come up with money so they can receive the proper treatment!", says Ms. Levinson.

Ashley's desire to spread awareness stems from what she and many other women with PCOS have gone through, years without the proper diagnosis and not knowing what was truly wrong. Thousands of women from around the country have experienced the same lack of response from the medical community with little understanding of PCOS and the best way to treat it. Many medical professionals still view the syndrome as a gynecological problem and only address the syndrome when issues of infertility arise. As a result, single women, older women and those not trying to get pregnant often still have little chance of being diagnosed. Prior to a few years ago, PCOS had been largely misunderstood and rarely diagnosed. "The information to make a proper diagnosis just wasn't there," said Ashley. "Your concerns, in many cases, would have been dismissed. Now the medical community is realizing it is more than menstrual irregularities, it's a lifelong condition that can take years off of your life", says Ashley. Part of the problem, then and now, is that the PCOS symptoms manifest themselves in different ways. In fact, not all affected women have polycystic ovaries. Women with PCOS can have any combination of symptoms of varying severity. As a result, researchers, doctors and women themselves look at the symptoms individually rather than collectively. "It Is my personal goal to ensure every medical professional makes the proper diagnosis. Furthermore, I think girls who are coming of age should learn about PCOS when they are learning about sex education in school ", said Ms. Levinson, who continues to dedicate her life to PCOS Awareness and Advocacy.

Ms. Levinson has be taking the first step in making this happen by sharing her story through various media outletsincluding:

June 2005 -The Gloucester County Times

Sept. 2005 - Ashley personal journey Featured on Discovery Health Channel Mystery Diagnosis

October 2005 - personal story in Woman's World Magazine

Fall 2005 - Article featured in NY Trend

Fall 2006- Pocono Record - Journey with PCOS

Spring 2007 - Top Ten finalist in Glamour Magazine's Woman of the Year for PCOS Advocacy

October 2010 - Glamour Magazine featured article about PCOS and Endometriosis

February 2014 - Shorty Award Nominee for PCOS Activism

Taking your Life Back from PCOS With Lifestyle Management!

Taking your Life Back from PCOS With Lifestyle Management!


PCOS is a syndrome that affects women and girls both physically and emotionally. As such, with any syndrome that affects your overall well-being, you need to find the tools necessary to help you  regain your inner strength and live a healthier life.  

The benefits of a healthy lifestyle have been preached since the beginning of time.  Even if you are not trying to loose weight, the health benefits associated with proper diet, exercise and mental health can have long-lasting positive results, which is why lifestyle management for PCOS has become such a hot commodity.

"For women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), making some healthy lifestyle changes can be very helpful in managing the condition. Lifestyle management is important for all women with PCOS – whether you are overweight or in the healthy weight range. Even when not actively trying to lose weight, adopting a healthy diet will ensure that you are receiving a healthy intake of nutrients, vitamins and minerals and can reduce your long-term risk of disease such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Physical activity also increases energy levels, improves self esteem and reduces anxiety and depression.

Managing your weight includes preventing excess weight gain if you are a healthy weight, losing weight if you are overweight or maintaining weight loss long-term. Weight management can be much better achieved by combining diet with physical activity and behaviour change than by simply dieting alone."

Source - http://www.managingpcos.org.au/lifestyle-and-pcos#sthash.CELVjxy6.dpuf (Jean Hailes)

So How do we do this??

1. Stop Dieting

Whether you are trying to loose weight our just maintain your health, making the right food choices to maintain your health with PCOS is important. The root of the word "Diet" means nutrition so instead of starving our bodies we need to nourish them with the right foods,

Replace the carbs, sugars, high fat and some starches and replace them with nutrient dense foods!!

Foods to Eat

- High fiber carbs
- High protein Foods- lean meats and legumes
- Foods containg healthy fats - nuts, fish and some oils

Foods to Avoid

· Fried foods
· Foods high in sugar
· Soda
· Meats injected with additional hormones
· Refined carbohydrates such as chips, cake, cookies

· Highly processed meats

You can chat with some of the top nutritionists for PCOS right on twitter - PCOSNutrition @pcosnutrition 
and Martha McKittrick @citygirlbites Fertility Chef @fertilitychef They can help you with different diets, supplements and approaches to eating and nourishing for better health!

2. Start Exercising

Regular exercise has incredible benefits that go way beyond weight loss. It improves the mind, body and spirit improving overall physical and mental health leading to healthier lives and minimizing serious health consequences associated with the syndrome

Benefits -

- Regulates blood sugar

- Increases self confidence

- Increases weight loss / helps maintain healthy weight

- Increases metabolism

- Increases endorphins, which helps your overall mood

To learn more about the benefits of exercise please visit @CurvesDonelson and while exercising you can make the time pass by listening to The Dan Tennick Show +The Dan Tennick Show @DanTennickShow on Twitter

3. Try a different Approach.. 

Many have found major health benefits from adding supplements to their diets, especially with taking medications for PCOS like metformin and BCPs which tend to deplete some of the vitamins necessary for our systems to function properly and for us to feel good.  Additionally, many women are now turning to alternative therapies such as acupuncture, yoga and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) as alternatives to taking pills) While there is no conclusive findings on outcomes of these approaches, research and word of mouth is indicating some of the benefits of these practices....

- Acupuncture 

In the current study, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, a group of women with PCOS were given acupuncture where the needles were stimulated both manually and with a weak electric current at a low frequency that was, to some extent, similar to muscular work. A second group was instructed to exercise at least three times a week, while a third group acted as controls. All were given information on the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet.

"The study shows that both acupuncture and exercise reduce high levels of testosterone and lead to more regular menstruation," says docent associate professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin, who is responsible for the study. "Of the two treatments, the acupuncture proved more effective."

- Yoga

1. Holding weight-bearing poses builds muscle.  In turn, increased muscle mass helps to combat insulin resistance – one of the keys to PCOS management.
2. An active yoga practice can increase heart rate, providing a cardiovascular workout and leading to weight loss.
3. Third, certain asanas and pranayama exercises promote hormonal balance and deep relaxation, helping to bring the adrenal and cortisol levels of stressed-out PCOS minds and bodies in check, and assisting in healing from chronic inflammation.
4. Yoga philosophy and Ayurveda, or traditional Indian medicine, similarly describe certain poses as stimulating energy systems within the body that may be stagnant in women with PCOS as a means to bring the body into balance.

Source: PCOS Diva@pcosdiva - http://www.pcosdiva.com/2013/02/4-reasons-why-yoga-is-beneficial-for-pcos/

-Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

TCM seeks to readdress the entire hormonal environment in PCOS, promote ovulation, improve egg quality, support conception and prevent a miscarriage if a pregnancy is achieved.
Deficiency of Spleen Qi and Kidney Yang, Accumulation of Phlegm and Damp are the identified issues with PCOS

Kidney Deficiency, Disharmony of Chong and Ren Channels
Constitutional kidney qi deficiency, prolonged illness, excessive sexual activity, long term intake of oral contraceptive pills, can all affect the kidney function and result in the depletion of kidney yin or/and kidney yang, leading to a failure of its ability to dominate the body’s fluids, warm the uterus with a poor nourishment of chong and ren channels. Therefore, the uterus is unable to get adequate blood flow, causing prolonged menstrual cycle with scanty bleeding or amenorrhea occurs.

Spleen Qi Deficiency, Accumulation of Phlegm and Damp in the Uterus
Over consumption of greasy, fatty and sugary foods, dairy products and alcohol; or excessive worrying and excessive physical work may impair spleen function, causing a failure of transporting fluids and food into useable energy. Accumulated body fluid then transform into damp and phlegm, obstruct the qi and blood flow in the uterus and blocks the chong and ren channels. Consequently, the uterus and ovaries are starved of blood supply, leading to irregular and scanty periods, or even amenorrhea and infertility.

Liver Qi Stagnation and Blood stasis
Enduring stress, depression or anxiety may lead to internal impairment of the seven emotions, causing liver qi stagnation and blood stasis; or invasion of pathogenic wind and cold. Together with excessive consumption of cold foods and drinks, they congeal the blood and cause blood stasis, which obstructs the chong and ren channels and prevents menstruating and therefore amenorrhea. Long term liver qi stagnation could eventually transform into heat, or excessive pathogenic heat invasion exhausts the kidney yin and blood and then causes irregular periods, or heavy and clotty bleeding.

Souce: Liqin Zhao, Chinese Medicine Times http://www.chinesemedicinetimes.com/article.php/124/a_comprehensive_treatment_of_polycystic_ovarian_syndrome_pcos

Supplements for PCOS -

Supplements used in treating PCOS aim at inducing regular ovulation, lowering androgens and modifying insulin resistance

Some of the more popular supplements for PCOS

1. Vitex, or chasteberry - this supplement will help to balance fertility and sex hormones. It will also help with acne control. This is the most popular of the supplements for women with PCOS and other hormonal disorders.

2. Cinnamon - this is taken before meals to balance blood glucose. In turn, when blood glucose is balanced, insulin is also balanced. It also helps with appetite control as well.

3. Saw Palmetto - a popular supplement for men for prostate health but also benefits women with PCOS since their hormone levels are sometimes high in androgrens and testosterone. This supplement will help with hirsutism, which is hair growth on the face and neck, as well as acne and hormone balance.

4. Chromium - this is similar to cinnamon and is used for glucose balance.

5. d-Pinitol - this is to balance fertility and sex hormones, glucose control and weight and appetite control. This is another popular supplement for women with PCOS.

6. Donq Quai - the has been referred to as the female geinsing and is useful for irregular menstrual cycles as well as for PMS control.

7. Black Cohosh - this supplement helps with PMS control and it also lowers blood pressures.

There are many other options to explore as well such as juicing, paleo and ketogenic diets!!!

4. Get your Groove Back

PCOS is not a life sentence.. Sometimes it may feel like you have lost control but, you can get it back! Having a happy mind and fulfilled spirit can often help you overcome things that seem overwhelming. it's time to reclaim your life!!

PCOS Reclaim Your Life Program

Leela Life Coaching is a great resource for helping you get your groove back...

"Life doesn’t have to be all about PCOS.  It doesn’t have to be the all-treatment-all-the-time channel.  You can pay attention to your hobbies; you can feel better about your body; you can make the changes that you need to make and spend your time and energy on your family and loved ones."

"The three month PCOS Reclaim Your Life program, we start by developing an individualized habits plan for you, based on your life, your needs, and your doctor’s recommendations.  This is not a one-size-fits-all arrangement; your program is based on your needs, your situation, and your goals.  We’ll talk about your long-range dreams, your values, and not just what you want but why you want it.

Then we make it happen.  With weekly homework (and consequences or rewards if you need them!) we develop your habits from the ground up.  We set goals that you can reach, and incentives that work for you.  Eating, exercise, down time, relaxation (did you know stress hormones make it harder to lose weight?), family time, and even techniques for reconnecting with your body and with your sweetie are in the plan.  We talk about how to set limits and boundaries and how to get others to honor them so you can have the life you want without the stress of having to justify it."

Source: http://leelalifecoaching.com/blog/pcos-coaching/

So remember... 

Physical Activity, Proper Nourishment and a Healthy Mind are the keys to living a healthier life with any life-altering syndrome, especially polycystic ovary syndrome. Size, age, or where you are in life does not matter, lifestyle management is important to minimize long-term health consequences associated with PCOS such as; heart disease, diabetes and forms of cancer as well as the psychological strains such as depression and anxiety.

Take the steps you need to find your inner peace with PCOS!

D. Cardoza - My Life with PCOS

My Life with PCOS

D. Cardoza

Since the day I hit puberty at 14, I somehow knew I would have fertility issues, though at the time I had no idea why.  My cycles have always been very irregular and I had facial hair.  Being of German ancestry, I just assumed the facial hair was normal.

It wasn’t till years later that I came across a short article in Woman’s World, I believe, that talked about PCOS and some symptoms.  And those symptoms fit me!  I went to my internist who ran some tests.  While the tests didn’t support a PCOS diagnosis, my doctor believed I did have it due to my symptoms.  I was thin, young, and didn’t know much so the only thing I did about my symptoms was go for laser hair removal, which didn’t wind up working, so I went back to shaving my face every morning.  Boy, does that make a woman feel feminine.

I honestly didn’t give it much thought for many years.  I got married, divorced, and eventually remarried again.  I had gained weight during my first marriage that I attributed to being less active and more of a happily married homebody couple.  I lost weight afterwards as I was out dancing for hours on end three to four nights a week.  I gained weight again in my second marriage and attributed it to the same thing.

In 2001, my husband and I decided to start a family.  Knowing I would have problems, we went straight to a reproductive endocrinologist.  Pre-IVF testing this time showed I did have PCOS (along with an immune issue).  The doctor put me on Metformin to help me lose weight before any cycles to conceive.  I wasn’t on it for long when my husband and I decided to build our family another way.  My weight wasn’t a big issue at the time, and I still didn’t know all I do now about PCOS, so I stopped taking the Metformin.

To build our family, we chose surrogacy – traditional surrogacy.  That involves having someone else carry your child and having that same woman donate her egg.  When my husband and I were deciding on which option to pursue, it occurred to me one day that I might pass on PCOS and any other fertility issues to her.  I realized it was no guarantee, but if I could avoid it, I was going to do it.  I just wanted to be a mom and it truly didn’t matter how that happened.

I’m now at a point in my life where I need to do something about my weight and my health.  When I entered my second marriage, I was so incredibly embarrassed about having to shave my face every day.  I don’t think I told anyone … and I mean anyone … until about two years ago, not even my husband.  Thankfully, he’s an incredible man and it made absolutely no difference to him … neither the hair nor the weight.  But, I need to get and be healthy for my daughter.  I want to be around for the long haul, especially since I’m an older mom.  I have the self-confidence every woman should have because of who they are on the inside.  I wish I had this all along and will do all I can to instill it in my daughter.

 I’m lucky.  I don’t have debilitating symptoms that some women with PCOS do.  Right now, I’m thoroughly educating myself on PCOS so I can help others, and to get the word out and educate the public so no woman with PCOS ever feels embarrassed by what others may think.

Knowledge is power, right? 

Personal PCOS Story with K. Saks

My PCOS Story

K. Saks

Michigan

My PCOS story began at an early age.  I was always the first child in my class to develop—whether it be with regard to height, weight, shoe size, any immutable quality.  I started wearing a bra at the age of 8 and got my first period at the age of 9.  At the time, I never realized anything was different about me—just quicker.  I was considered “overweight” from the age of 8 on.  Doctors would try everything to get me to lose the extra pounds which, in hindsight, were probably not that detrimental.  I was told that I was lazy by doctors, offered forms of speed to increase my metabolism and even told that if I didn’t loose weight that a doctor might, one day, have to stick a needle in my heart if I had a heart attack.   

At the age of 12 I began having serious bouts of depression.  I was originally sent to a social worker and placed on Zoloft.  When that no longer worked, at the age of 14 I was switched to Paxil without much thought to side effects, and after self-mutilating episodes landed in the hospital.  My medicine was changed to Prozac and I entered therapy with a new therapist after that time.  I learned to control that part of the disease through medicine, activity and therapy

After having steady and overly-predictable cycles for approximately seven years, at the age of 16 I had a stretch of 6 months without a period.  A family doctor gave me a five-day dose of hormones to “jump-start” my period.  That worked once, but when it didn’t work again I requested another doctor.  A caring and intelligent young intern noticed the correlation of many of my medical conditions—the weight, the depression, and the break in my cycles.  She diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) right away and placed me on birth control pills to regulate my periods.

The birth control, though helpful for that one symptom, did not help regulate any other symptoms of the syndrome.  When I was 20-21 I did research regarding PCOS and found a corollary condition—Insulin Resistance—which seemed to describe me perfectly.  My family doctors told me that I was incorrect—that they did not test for such a disease and did not prescribe medicine for such a disease and sent me on my way.  After again switching doctors, I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance—with insulin levels twice as high as the normal person.  Although the doctor I was seeing attempted to place me on insulin-controlling medication, the medication proved to be too harsh on my stomach and so I stopped taking it.

I am now 24 years old.  Approximately one year ago, after reading a story regarding Type II diabetes and Insulin Resistance in the news, I decided it was time to take control of my health.  I started to see an endocrinologist after my primary care physician refused to place me on a regular dose of proper medicine.  I was given Metformin, an insulin controlling medication. I started on a low-carbohydrates diet, and began working out (a habit that I had for awhile, but because of the insulin resistance never led to genuine weight loss).  I have lost approximately 50-plus pounds since then and continue on both the Metformin and birth control to help my symptoms. It is my hope to get to a healthy size in the next three years and within the next ten years, be able to start a family without many fertility complications. 

MILLIONS OF WOMEN ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR DIABETES, CVD AND STROKE!!!

Millions of American women are at grave risk for serious illnesses including heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer and they don’t even know it.   

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), the most common metabolic disorder of reproductive-age women in the United States is commonly known as a reproductive disorder, but is also associated with life-threatening medical illnesses.  Therefore, a plan of action  needs to be put into place to find and treat women to prevent serious illness.

Did you know?

·     PCOS affects an estimated 10% of reproductive-age women in the U.S.

·     Over 50% of PCOS patients are obese; 50% have diabetes by age 40

·     PCOS patients are at higher risk to develop high blood pressure, lipid disorders and coronary    artery disease

·     New studies have shown that as many as 40% of PCOS patients as young as age 30-45 may have coronary calcification (a warning of heart attack risk)

Up to 15 million women and girls in the U.S. alone have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and less than half know what it is!  

February 13, 2014 Marked the birth of a campaign aimed to increase awareness and change for women and girls with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) #HeartforPCOSCampaign in conjunction with The PCOS Awareness Association (PCOSAA) http://www.pcosaa.org

For the staff of the new organization, The PCOS Awareness Assocation will be a major driving force in addressing the need for more information and education about PCOS.    

PCOS is complex hormonal disorder for which there is no cure, but for which effective management is possible.  Not only does PCOS cause devastating short-term effects such as infertility, dark skin patches, obesity, acne, female patterned baldness and excess facial and body hair, PCOS has a substantial negative impact on quality of life because of the disorder’s multi-system conditions.  Many women with PCOS are insulin-resistant, a condition that raises the level of insulin circulating in the body and is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. In fact, women with PCOS have seven times the risk of other women for developing adult-onset diabetes, which in turn greatly increases their chance of having cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and kidney problems.  In addition, because obesity and type two diabetes have now reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women, PCOS plays a key role in the foremost causes of death and disability in American women.

The PCOS Awareness Assocation and its volunteers and members plan to speak very openly about their struggle, symptoms, and avenues they have taken to help other women interpret the information available about PCOS, through the resources provided by PCOSAA's partners and educational initiatives!  The PCOS Awareness Association will be a driving force in letting women and girls know they are not alone!

Many women with PCOS, have gone years without the proper diagnosis and have silently suffered not knowing what was truly wrong. Even in today’s medically advanced era, women from around the country are experiencing the same lack of response from a medical community with little understanding of PCOS, except in rare cases when the infertility aspect are addressed.  As a result, single women, older women and those not trying to get pregnant have little chance of being diagnosed. 

Part of the problem is that the PCOS symptoms manifest themselves in different ways.  In fact, not all affected women have polycystic ovaries.  Women with PCOS can have any combination of symptoms of varying severity. As a result, researchers, doctors and women themselves look at the symptoms individually rather than collectively.

The good news is with The PCOS Awareness Association, the word is spreading.  Physicians are now recognizing the symptoms and sending women to endocrinologists for testing. In addition, research on PCOS and its causes has increased, greatly. Now with the help of many dedicated volunteers from across the country, There is an outlet  for people who want to dedicate  their  time to help women, girls and the public at large learn about and understand PCOS! 

If you would like to learn more about the PCOS Awareness Association and PCOS through our partners please visit the website: http://www.pcosaa.org

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) - Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal problem in women. It is also a metabolic disorder that affects several body systems and can cause significant long-term health consequences. PCOS is often characterized by enlarged ovaries, with multiple small painless cysts or follicles, that form in the ovary. Two other key features of PCOS are production of excess androgens (male sex hormones) and anovulation (the failure to ovulate properly), which makes PCOS the leading cause of infertility.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

The symptoms of PCOS can be not only physically debilitating, but also emotionally and psychologically wrenching. While no two women may have the same symptoms of POCS, they are likely to include any or all of the following:

·       Infertility

·       Irregular or absent periods

·       Excess hair growth on face and body

·       Male-Pattern hair thinning

·       Acne

·       Obesity

·       Lipid Abnormalities

If a woman has two or more of these symptoms, she should go to a physician, such as a reproductive endocrinologist, for an accurate diagnosis and treatment of symptoms.

Is PCOS life-threatening?

PCOS can be associated with a number of serious medical conditions. PCOS is frequently associated with decreased sensitivity to insulin (i.e., insulin resistance), which in turn may lead to an increased risk of adult on-set diabetes mellitus, stroke and cardiovascular disease. PCOS can also be associated with uterine and endometrial cancers

How many women are affected by PCOS?

It is estimated that approximately five to ten percent of women may have PCOS, with some researchers suggesting that the number is as high as fifteen percent.

What Causes PCOS?

The susceptibility to PCOS is often inherited, however the precise cause is unknown.

How is PCOS diagnosed?

While many physicians diagnose a woman with PCOS based on the symptoms listed above, confirmation of the diagnosis requires obtaining blood samples for a variety of hormones, including those produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, pituitary gland and thyroid gland. A full physical examination and screening for cholesterol, trygleceride, glucose and insulin should also be part of a complete evaluation.

Is PCOS a gynecological or an endocrinological disorder?

Since many of the symptoms involve a woman’s reproductive system, PCOS is often mistaken for a gynecological disorder. It is, however, a disorder of the endocrine system, involving hormones and hormone production. Therefore a specialist in the endocrine system, such as a reproductive endocrinologist, should be consulted to confirm diagnosis.

Is there an overall treatment for PCOS?

Unfortunately, at the present time doctors can only treat the individual symptoms of women with PCOS, rather than the entire syndrome.  Once diagnosed, in most patients it can be managed effectively to help patients lead healthier and more satisfying lifestyles.  In the meantime, research continues to determine the cause and look for new and better treatments for PCOS.  

Are there other issues related to PCOS?

There is often a stigma attached to many of the symptoms of PCOS, particularly facial and body hair, infertility and obesity. Some women may even suffer from depression as a result of the symptoms. Women with PCOS need emotional and social support to deal with the effects of this condition on their lives Research has shown that a strong network of friends and family greatly enhances an individual’s ability to cope with the distressing effects of the syndrome.

Why is public awareness of PCOS so critical?

The symptoms of PCOS can vary significantly from one woman to the next, therefore a woman often does not realize she may have the syndrome. Public information and awareness about the symptoms and the serious nature of the disorder are crucial to identifying women in need of treatment.

In addition, for women to make informed decisions about their health management, the information upon which they base their decisions should be accurate, current, based upon well-performed research studies, and obtained from well-informed and well-trained physicians and other caregivers. This information must be easy for the general public to find and understand. There are many sources of information available on the internet please visit PCOSAA, an upcoming organization disseminating information on PCOS and helping support women with PCOS

PCOSAA: http://www.pcosaa.org

PCOS Overview with The PCOSGurl!

PCOS 101

• Is also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome or Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD).
• Affects an estimated 6-10% of all women and most don't even know they have it.
• Is treatable, but not curable, by medications, changes in diet and exercise.
• Is one of the leading causes of infertility in Women.
• Has been identified for 75 years and they still aren't sure what causes it.
• PCOS is generally considered a syndrome rather than a disease (though it is sometimes called Polycystic Ovary Disease) because it manifests itself through a group of signs and symptoms that can occur in any combination, rather than having one known cause or presentation.
• There is no cure for PCOS. It is a condition that is managed, rather than cured.
• Affects far more than just reproduction.
• At this time, there is no single definitive test for PCOS. This is because no exact cause of PCOS has been established yet. This is why there is a wide-range of opinion on how to diagnose and treat PCOS.
• Treatment of the symptoms of PCOS can help reduce risks of future health problems.
• PCOS is associated with increased risk for endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial cancer, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
• IT IS NOT just a cosmetic problem.
• Although up to 15 million women in the U.S. alone have PCOS, less than half know they have it!

Can include the following symptoms:

• Irregular or absent menses
• Numerous cysts on the ovaries in many, but not all, cases
• High blood pressure
• Acne
• Elevated insulin levels, Insulin Resistance, or Diabetes
• Infertility
• Excess hair on the face and body
• Thinning of the scalp hair (alopecia)
• Weight Problems or obesity that is centered around your mid section

What a Polycystic Ovary looks like:

The many cysts in a polycystic ovary are follicles that have matured but, due to abnormal hormone levels, were never released. In a normal ovary, a single egg develops and is rel released each month.

Symptoms Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Women with PCOS may have some of the following symptoms:

• Amenorrhea (no menstrual period), infrequent menses, and/or oligomenorrhea (irregular bleeding) — Cycles are often greater than six weeks in length, with eight or fewer periods in a year. Irregular bleeding may include lengthy bleeding episodes, scant or heavy periods, or frequent spotting.
• Oligo or anovulation (infrequent or absent ovulation) — While women with PCOS produce follicles — which are fluid-filled sacs on the ovary that contain an egg — the follicles often do not mature and release as needed for ovulation. It is these immature follicles that create the cysts.
• Hyperandrogenism — Increased serum levels of male hormones. Specifically, testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS).
• Infertility — Infertility is the inability to get pregnant within six to 12 months of unprotected intercourse, depending on age. With PCOS, infertility is usually due to ovulatory dysfunction.
• Cystic ovaries — Classic PCOS ovaries have a "string of pearls" or "pearl necklace" appearance with many cysts (fluid-filled sacs). It is difficult to diagnose PCOS without the presence of some cysts or ovarian enlargement, but sometimes more subtle alterations may not have been recorded, or are not recognized as abnormal, by the ultrasonographer.
• Enlarged ovaries — Polycystic ovaries are usually 1.5 to 3 times larger than normal.
• Chronic pelvic pain — The exact cause of this pain isn't known, but it may be due to enlarged ovaries leading to pelvic crowding. It is considered chronic when it has been noted for greater than six months.
• Obesity or weight gain — Commonly a woman with PCOS will have what is called an apple figure where excess weight is concentrated heavily in the abdomen, similar to the way men often gain weight, with comparatively narrower arms and legs. The hip:waist ratio is smaller than on a pear-shaped woman — meaning there is less difference between hip and waist measurements. It should be noted that most, but not all, women with PCOS are overweight.
• Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and diabetes — Insulin resistance is a condition where the body's use of insulin is inefficient. It is usually accompanied by compensatory hyperinsulinemia — an over-production of insulin. Both conditions often occur with normal glucose levels, and may be a precursor to diabetes, in which glucose intolerance is further decreased and blood glucose levels may also be elevated.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) — Blood pressure readings over 140/90.
• Hirsutism (excess hair) — Excess hair growth such as on the face, chest, abdomen, thumbs, or toes.
• Alopecia (male-pattern baldness or thinning hair) — The balding is more common on the top of the head than at the temples.
• Acne/Oily Skin/Seborrhea — Oil production is stimulated by overproduction of androgens. Seborrhea is dandruff — flaking skin on the scalp caused by excess oil.
• Acanthosis nigricans (dark patches of skin, tan to dark brown/black) — Most commonly on the back of the neck, but also but also in skin creases under arms, breasts, and between thighs, occasionally on the hands, elbows and knees. The darkened skin is usually velvety or rough to the touch.
• Acrochordons (skin tags) — Tiny flaps (tags) of skin that usually cause no symptoms unless irritated by rubbing.