Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Little Rock, Arkansas – September is National Awareness Month for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

PCOS is a disorder that only affects women. It is characterized by irregular periods, increased body and facial hair, acne, male pattern hair loss, and skin infections, and is caused by excessive testosterone levels. One year after your first period, it may be diagnosed.

Infertility, which is tough no matter the cause, is one of the disorders caused by PCOS that affects women the most. The therapy of this condition is, nevertheless, still seeing significant advancements. Excess weight gain that is challenging to decrease is the second most prevalent concern. Additionally, depression rates are higher in PCOS-positive women. Women with PCOS are more likely to develop cardiometabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea regardless of their weight.

Two key objectives in treating PCOS are to address the top issues the patient expresses during the consultation, according to Dr. Melanie Green, Director of the Multi-Disciplinary PCOS clinic. She stated that she wants to make sure that they have a strategy in place to maintain the health of their uterus, whether it be by ensuring that they have regular periods or by taking hormones to maintain a thin and healthy uterine lining.

‘I tell my patients that it may take us up to a year with visits every 3 months to figure out the best way to treat their personal PCOS,’ Green said.

‘Women with PCOS have not been well cared for, in part due to lack of education and varied guidelines,’ Green said.

She continued, saying ‘It takes on average 2.5 years and over 3 doctors visit to get a diagnosis. If you think you have PCOS, don’t give up. We need patient advocacy and support to help move the needle to have more funding for trials for women with PCOS. I highly encourage women to get involved with PCOS advocacy groups, who can also present them with a lot of good information.’

Visit your doctor if you think you could have PCOS.

If you have already received a diagnosis, extra resources can be found at https://pcosawarenessmonth.org.