1 week Ago By [email protected] (Amy Jones)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common yet complex condition that affects hormone levels and how a woman’s ovaries work. According to the NHS , it affects around one in every 10 women in the UK, but more than half do not experience any symptoms. PCOS causes a “constellation of physical and mental health symptoms”, explains women’s health expert Dr Shirin Lakhani (drshirinlakhani.
co.uk). “It causes the ovaries to produce an abnormal amount of androgens, male sex hormones that are usually present in women in only small amounts.
This hormone imbalance causes their body to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to get pregnant.” Symptoms of PCOS usually occur in the late teens or early twenties, with many women being diagnosed during their twenties and thirties. These symptoms vary from mild to severe, with some causing “anxiety and distress”, says Dr Shirin.
Sometimes symptoms can be missed as they’re not always easy to spot. As PCOS is linked to unusual hormone levels in the body, women with the condition can often experience insulin resistance, Dr Shirin says. “This is because their bodies make insulin (a key hormone in balancing blood sugar), but they can’t use it effectively.
It’s thought that up to 70% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance. If someone’s insulin levels are high, it is harder for them to lose weight and therefore can increase the likelihood of certain health conditions such as type 2 diabetes.” Dr Shirin advises that increasing insulin sensitivity can help.
“Women can reduce their insulin resistance – this relates to how responsive their cells are to insulin – and in turn can modify how insulin affects their PCOS symptoms.” Here we take a more detailed look at PCOS - including one sufferer whose periods last over six months..
. ‘My PCOS made my period last over six months’ Georgie Smith, 25, senior content executive and copywriter at Tribera, was diagnosed with PCOS almost two years ago..
. “I was diagnosed when I was 23 after having irregular periods. The first thing I thought about was fertility.
I was aware of how the condition could cause infertility or problems with fertility, and that was my primary concern. I haven’t tried to start a family yet but I’ve been warned I may have issues. Me and my partner are more inclined to go down the adoption route, both due to my PCOS, and for other reasons.
PCOS has a whole multitude of symptoms and they are unpredictable. Physical symptoms like body hair, hair loss, weight fluctuations and bloating can be embarrassing, especially when no amount of dieting or exercise seems to make a difference. The non-physical symptoms are also draining, including fatigue and mental health issues.
“Typically people with PCOS experience irregular or no periods, but in my case I had extended bleeding. My longest period lasted over six months! This led to extreme fatigue and iron deficiency. Even when it’s treated with medicine, such as regulatory birth control, my periods are still irregular.
This is one of the most annoying symptoms I experience personally, as it affects my plans and holidays – and tampons are expensive! “Another one is not being able to explain to non-sufferers the weight it adds to everyday life. It’s an invisible illness and there is no way to put the feeling into words that people who don’t experience it could truly understand.” Symptoms PCOS dietician Jodie Relf, who is also spokesperson for MyOva (myovacare.
com), says the most common symptoms include, “Facial acne around the jaw, irregular cycles, excess hair growth around the jaw, top lip, chest, back and stomach, fatigue, carbohydrate cravings, difficulty sleeping, weight gain around the abdomen, difficulty conceiving and skin tags or dark patches on the skin, usually around the armpits, neck and under the breasts. “Less common symptoms include very painful periods and pain around the ovaries.” Diagnosis Jodie explains the ‘Rotterdam criteria’ is used to diagnose PCOS and people need to meet two of the following three criteria to be diagnosed: elevated androgens, which can be diagnosed by a blood test and/or physical signs such as excess facial hair and acne; ovulatory dysfunction, which is indicated by irregular or absent periods, and the presence of polycystic ovaries, which is diagnosed using an internal scan.
Jodie adds, “It’s also important to test for and rule out any other conditions that may cause PCOS-like symptoms, such as premature ovarian failure, hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinaemia.” Pain Jodie says standard period pain “lasts 48-72 hours, is manageable and doesn’t stop you from doing your normal daily activities”. PCOS period pain can be “more severe due to excess inflammation, hormonal imbalances or irregular and heavy periods”.
Small cysts bursting can also cause a short, sharp pain. Treatment “Standard advice from healthcare professionals includes losing weight, or using a hormonal contraceptive or diabetes medicine Metformin,” Jodie says. “Weight loss does not necessarily improve PCOS symptoms, and weight is not an issue for everyone with PCOS.
It can be more beneficial to focus on lifestyle changes – eating a balanced diet, moving more to help increase insulin sensitivity, improving sleep and reducing stress, as these impact our hormonal balance.” Diet By making lifestyle changes, people can “get to a point where they are free of symptoms completely”, Jodie says, although this doesn’t mean they no longer have PCOS. “Including lots of foods rich in antioxidants in your diet, such as fruits and vegetables and wholegrain foods, along with healthy fats, specifically omega-3’s, can help reduce inflammation,” she explains.
“So add nuts, seeds and oily fish to your diet. A good quality omega-3 supplement can also be helpful.”.
