First of all, anyone out there reading this know what Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is? Didn’t think so. What if I told you that this syndrome can cause endometrial cancer, miscarriages, terribly painful periods and heart disease? A weird combination of outcomes from a reproductive ailment, right? Well yes, all because this syndrome messes with your hormones, which causes a cascading effect on your health.

What is it?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an imbalance of female sex hormones that causes menstrual problems and inhibits the ability to get pregnant. This hormone imbalance makes it more difficult for women to release fully mature eggs. The mature eggs may stay with the ovary, where they are surrounded by fluid and become benign cysts, either within or clinging to the edges of the ovary.

And because there is no ovulation, there is no production of the hormone progesterone. Progesterone helps to maintain a regular menstrual period – without it, periods are irregular or absent.

There are some 3 million cases in the U.S. every year, but it is estimated that there are about 2 million more sufferers who are unaware they have this malady. One in 10 to one in 20 women of childbearing age will be affected by PCOS, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women’s Health. The cause of PCOS is not known, but there are known risk factors.

PCOS Risk Factors

The ovaries in women with PCOS make more of the male hormone androgen -- normally made in very small amounts in the ovaries. This affects the development and release of eggs during ovulation. This can also result in dark, excessive hair growth on the arms, face, back and toes. The woman’s voice may deepen, and she may have acne.


One of the main risk factors for PCOS is a family history of it. Your risk of having to deal with this syndrome is related to whether other women in your family have it, and if they have irregular periods or diabetes. This disease can be passed down from either the mother’s or father’s side.

There also may be a greater risk of PCOS among women with excess insulin. Insulin is another chemical messenger produced in the pancreas that allows cells to use glucose, the body’s main source of energy. When cells build up a resistance to glucose and do not pull it out of the bloodstream, it's called insulin resistance. The pancreas has to push out more insulin for cells' energy use, and generally, blood sugar levels rise. Further, women with PCOS may be at greater risk of diabetes.

Researchers have also found that women with PCOS have low-grade inflammation that encourages the production of androgen by polycystic ovaries. PCOS can be diagnosed in women as early as their 20s and 30s.

Long-term use of the anti-seizure medication Valproate, aka Depakote, has also been tied to an increased risk of PCOS.

Possible Complications of Undiagnosed PCOS

The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier symptoms can be treated without advancing to other related diseases.

• More than 50 percent of women with PCOS will be pre-diabetic or diabetic by age 40, according to the Office on Women’s Health.
  

• Heart attack risks are four to seven times higher in women with PCOS, according to the Office on Women’s Health, and they may develop high blood pressure. Stroke risk is also higher.
• PCOS-afflicted women have high levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and lower levels of good (HDL) cholesterol.
• There’s always the chance of developing sleep apnea.The risk of endometrial cancer during the reproductive years is three times higher for women with PCOS than those who ovulated regularly.
• Pregnant women with PCOS have higher rates of miscarriages and higher rates of premature delivery
• Pregnant women with PCOS may develop gestational diabetes and may need extra monitoring while pregnant
• Women with PCOS may develop endometrial hyperplasia or pre-cancer of the uterine lining. This can develop as the monthly menstrual periods are missed but the uterus still “builds a nest” that doesn’t get flushed when it is apparent there is no pregnancy.
• Endometrial cancer is thought to be caused by high levels of estrogen in women who suffer from PCOS.
• Metabolic syndrome, which is a bundle of signs and symptoms that can indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, is also a danger for women with PCOS.
• Severe liver inflammation due to fat accumulation is another risk of PCOS.

Symptoms of PCOS include:

• Acne
• Weight gain and trouble losing weight
• Extra hair on the face and body that may be dark and coarse
  

• Thinning scalp hair
• Fewer than nine periods or even no periods in a year
• Fertility problems
• Insulin resistance or too much circulating blood insulin that can cause upper-body obesity and skin tags

High insulin levels can cause heart and blood vessel problems such as:

• Hardening of the arteries
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Coronary events

When to See Your Doctor

See your doctor right away if you suspect PCOS because:

• You can’t get pregnant after 12 months of trying, though you have regular menstrual cycles
• You have severe vaginal bleeding
• You show signs of diabetes, such as excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Increase in appetite with an unexplained decrease in weight and fatigue
• Tingling numbness in hands and feet
• Blurred vision

There is no one test to prove you have PCOS. A well-rounded diagnosis will include tools such as your medical history, pelvic exam, physical exam, blood tests to check androgen and blood sugar levels, and at times, a vaginal ultrasound.

Remember, a PCOS diagnosis is not the end of the world. More research is being conducted into this syndrome, and there have been advances in the treatment of PCOS.