According to wikipedia, PCOS is an endocrine disorder, which can include adrenal, gluclose, metabolic, sexual hormone or thyroid disorder. They indicated more, you can read on wiki's endocrine disorder page. Wiki also said that PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, and is a leading cause of infertility.
The following info comes from PCOSupport's forum, which says PCOS is hormonal imbalance caused by Insulin Resistance (IR). IR occurs when the body's cells do not use insulin effectively, basically producing more insulin than is required. Insulin is a hormone that affects other hormones in the body, including the sex-hormones, which cause many of the PCOS symptoms such as high testosterone levels. IR also causes the body to become very efficient at storing glucose as fat, which leads to the excess body fat which many of us suffer from, as well as the inability to lose weight.
The forum has a heck of a lot more to say about PCOS and IR, so if you want further info, check out the link I've posted above; I've copied much as I can and edited where I can to make it a shorter read.
According to the forum, it can be tricky to diagnose, since the blood work seems "normal" but there's underlying issues that aren't typically noticed. So if the symptoms below fits but your dr says its nothing (happened to me and to many other people), go see an endocrinologist and ask to have you hormone levels, cholesterol levels and thyroid checked. Also do a 2 or 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test, a Fasting Insulin level and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, if possible. Some doctors (like my gyno) did an ultrasound to look for the cysts. Wiki says that the cause is yet unknown, but agree that IR, diabetes and obesity are related to PCOS.
Symptoms of PCOS include:
- excessive hunger (especially when you feel that you "shouldn't" be hungry),
- dizziness/headache,
- nausea,
- irritability and mood swings,
- the "shakes"
- exhaustion especially if you skip a meal.
- skin on neck that meets body is thicker, creased, and perhaps looks "dirty" even after having a shower
- persistent acne (on face, back and chest), oily skin and sabbhorhea (a form of eczema)
- hirsutism (excessive and increased hair growth on areas where men normally have hair eg face, legs, chest, stomach, back, toes)
- hair loss/male pattern baldness
- depression
- weight gain/obesity (usually around the waist)
- deepening of voice
- ireegular, few or absent menses
- skin discolouration
- infertility
- multiple ovarian cysts (not everyone with PCOS has this)
- sleep apnea (snoring or breathing stops at times when sleeping)
According to PCOSupport.org, Birth Control Pills (BCP) like Diane-35 and Yaz/Yazmin aren't enough since it only takes care of the symptoms like oily skin, hair loss, hair growth, acne and eczema. Looks like they mostly recommend Metformin, which regulates your insulin rather than your hormones. Metformin seems especially good if you're thinking of getting pregnant (which is possible if PCOS is treated quickly). Dr Y, my gyno, recommended Androcur instead as this is apparently stronger than BCPs. I noted a few women are using this in addition to BCPs (first 10 days of menses), but my gyno recommended it as an alternative to Diane (hmmm....).
There are also women who choose to treat PCOS the natural way, which I'm too lazy and without discipline to do - low GI, high fibre high protein diet with plenty of exercise and resisting sugary stuff. Also, I think its always a nice thing to say 'let's go organic', but it doesn't always work, especially when it concerns something like Insulin Resistance, which makes the weight loss take too long, not to mentioned that losing weight can be difficult with PCOS.
Some people even take Cinnamon supplements since it apparently re-sensitizes one's insulin level. In addition to that, they learn to manage their diet and maintain an exercise regime that includes both cardiovascular and weight lifting.
Whatever it is, however you wish to treat it, if you have some of these symptoms, I suggest you see an endocrinologist just to confirm whether you have or don't have PCOS.
Apparently PCOS is underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed or even think its related simply based on the symptoms, even in the Western countries.
This was the case for me until I had my testerone level checked and ultrasound of my ovaries done; then immediately I was told I have PCOS.
What I have learned from these sites is that, though PCOS cannot be cured, it can be managed.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Healthy Lifestyle
PCOSupport.org
MedlinePlus
UpToDate
Womens Health - info from Monash Uni
There are also books on PCOS that you can read.
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