Important information about PCOS Awareness Month

PCOS Awareness Month

PCOS is also termed Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It has caused a lot of pain to women and makes it difficult for them to conceive. There are lots of women who are ignorant of this disorder, most especially those in developing countries. This is why the medical community decided to have a PCOS awareness month to create awareness about this disorder. PCOS Awareness Month is the ninth month of the year, which is September. It starts from the first day of September and lasts till September 30.

What is PCOS?

It is a complicated disorder that is hormonal and affects ten percent of the women population. It causes period irregularity and infertility in women. A woman suffering from PCOS will show some unwanted symptoms. When the hormone system is not balanced in a woman, the woman will have the symptoms of PCOS. Similarly, the imbalance can increase the secretion of androgens in a woman’s body. This can lead to the appearance of hair on the woman’s face and body. Women suffering from PCOS have PCOS chin hair, upper lip hair, and body hair.

PCOS Symptoms

• Losing hair volume on the head
• Head hair loss
• Excessive facial hair growth
• Excessive body hair growth
• The hair will secrete too much oil
• Acne
• The person will find it difficult to lose weight.
• The person gains weight easily.
• Periods will not be regular
• Some experience no menstruation at all.
• Most people who have this disorder find it difficult to conceive.
• There are visible dark skin patches on a person suffering from this disorder.

Classification of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

There are four types of PCOS:

Insulin resistance PCOS: This happens when the cells become immune to insulin in the body, which in turn leads to PCOS.

Adrenal PCOS: Women who go through extremely stressful situations can experience this type of PCOS. When the stress level is high, the hormone level spikes up.

Post Pill PCOS: It is possible to experience PCOS after you stop taking contraceptive pills. When you orally take contraceptive pills, it may balance your hormone for a while. However, it may worsen your PCOS once you stop taking the medicine. The good news is that this PCOS type is not a permanent one and can be reversed. You need to sleep more and avoid stressful situations. Additionally, take food and supplements that are rich in Vitamins B6 and E, Zinc, and magnesium.

Inflammatory PCOS: This is when the disorder is caused by severe inflammation. Poor lifestyle and lack of a proper diet can increase the level of androgens in the body.

Similar conditions to PCOS

Some conditions are somewhat similar to PCOS with slight differences. They are endometriosis and PCOD. This is why this article will write about Endometriosis vs PCOS and PCOD vs PCOS.

Comparing Endometriosis with PCOS

At every PCOS awareness month, medical practitioners speak about endometriosis. This is because both PCOS and endometriosis cause infertility and heavy periods in women.

Endometriosis and PCOS have different causes, treatment methods, and symptoms. While PCOS is a hormonal disorder, endometriosis is a cell growth disorder caused by a high level of estrogen. 

Anybody suffering from either endometriosis or PCOS needs medical intervention and supervision. However, in the case of PCOS, doctors treat patients with PCOS and give them endometriosis treatment. The reason is that a patient suffering from PCOS may develop endometriosis at the same time.

Endometriosis vs PCOS Causes

Causes of Endometriosis

Retrograde Periods: This is a common occurrence among women during menstruation when their uterine tissues move to their fallopian tubes. From there, the tissues move to their pelvic cavities.

Immunity Issues: Since retrograde periods occur in most women, their immune systems manage these periods. But those who are suffering from high or low immunity may have a problem managing their periods. When this situation occurs, these women will experience endometriosis.

Others include:

• If the patient has a history of the disorder in the family.
• If the patient started menstruating earlier than normal.
• A patient whose menstrual cycle is less than twenty-seven days may experience PCOS.
• If your period lasts more than seven days, please consult your doctor.

Causes PCOS

• Hormone issues
• Insulin problems
• Obesity
• If you notice that you are rapidly gaining weight without any reason, consult your doctor.
• Diabetes
• If the patient has a history of the disorder in the family.

Comparing PCOD with PCOS

Many women can differentiate between PCOD and PCOS. PCOD and PCOS affect the hormones and ovaries. They are both caused by imbalances that occur in the female hormones. While the symptoms of both disorders are similar, they both have slight differences.

PCOD

The ovaries of women who suffer from PCOD produce several immature or half-matured eggs.

Causes

• Stress
• Overweight
• Hormonal problems
• Bad lifestyle

PCOS and PCOD Differences

• PCOS affects the metabolism of an individual. A patient with severe PCOD develops PCOS while PCOD is a milder disorder compared to PCOS.
• It’s possible for a patient suffering from PCOS to stop menstruating, while a PCOD patient can still menstruate.
• Women with PCOS have fertility problems, while women with PCOD can conceive with medical assistance. PCOD can be treated if the patient follows the doctor’s instructions and takes her drugs regularly.
• Women with PCOS have irregular ovulation, which can cause pregnancy or birth loss, or complications if they managed to conceive. Women with PCOD can safely conceive and deliver with little medical intervention.
• PCOS patients may develop serious health issues, while PCOD patients may not.

Conclusion

Whether you suffer from PCOS, endometriosis, or PCOD, you need to make some changes in your life. Change any bad habits you have that may affect your health and complicate your condition. Steer clear of junk and processed food, eat fruits and natural food, eat less sugar, and exercise more. Participate in PCOS awareness month to know about PCOS.

Furthermore, schedule a regular check-up at your healthcare center. This can help to detect any of these disorders mentioned above. In addition, if you notice that you are exhibiting some symptoms mentioned above, go and see a doctor.

Early detection means early treatment and speeding up your recovery.