PCOS Symptoms
huangyan Sep 20, 2022
Some women start seeing symptoms around the time of their first period. Others only find they have PCOS after they’ve gained a lot of weight or they’ve had trouble getting pregnant. Usually, a diagnosis of PCOS can be determined when you experience two of three signs:
Irregular periods. Women with PCOS typically have irregular periods as a result of not ovulating. They might have less than twelve periods a year or none at all. Some patients with mild PCOS have slightly extended cycles.
Polycystic ovaries. Women’s ovaries might be enlarged and contain follicles that surround the eggs. As a result, the ovaries might fail to function regularly.
Excess androgen. Higher levels of male hormones can lead to physical signs, such as hair growth on the face or body, back, belly, and chest. Also, it can cause acne and male pattern baldness.
Other symptoms include:
Weight gain. About half of women with PCOS are overweight or have obesity which is difficult to manage
Darkening of the skin. You may see dark patches of skin formed on the back of your neck and under your breast and arm and groin.
Acne. PCOS can cause acne on the back, chest, and face. This acne may continue past the teenage years and may be difficult to treat.
Headaches. Hormonal changes can trigger headaches.
Pelvic pain. Pelvic pain may occur with periods, along with heavy bleeding. It may also occur when a woman isn’t bleeding.
Sleep problems. PCOS has been connected to a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. Some people will stop breathing for short periods.
Fatigue. Poor sleep can contribute to feeling fatigued.
Mood changes. Having PCOS can increase the likelihood of mood swings, depression, and anxiety.
Heavy bleeding. The uterine lining builds up for a longer period of time, so the periods can get can heavier than usual.
Thinning hair. People with PCOS start to lose patches of hair on their heads.
Infertility. PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility. Decreased frequency of ovulation can reduce the probability of conceiving.
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