Causes
PCOS has been linked to an imbalance in hormones due to an overabundance of insulin within the female body that isn’t able to be absorbed and used properly. The ovaries of women living with PCOS produce a high amounts of androgen (a male hormone) that affect the development and release of eggs during ovulation and can cause a delayed or an absence of a menstrual cycle. PCOS is the number once cause of female infertility.
Symptoms
- Infrequent, absent, and/or irregular menstrual periods
- Infertility (inability to get pregnant) because of not ovulating. In fact, PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.
- Hirsutism (HER-suh-tiz-um) — increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
- Cysts on the ovaries
- Acne, oily skin, or dandruff
- Weight gain or obesity, usually with extra weight around the waist
- Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
- Patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black
- Skin tags — excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
- Pelvic pain
- Anxiety or depression
- Sleep apnea — when breathing stops for short periods of time while asleep
Treatment
Making lifestyle changes by incorporating more frequent and rigorous exercising,