Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health issue caused by a hormonal imbalance and marked by a series of small cysts on the ovaries. A number of women are affected by the condition, but less than half of women are diagnosed. That means millions of women have PCOS and don’t even know it. To shed some light on this silent disease, here are 6 symptoms of PCOS.
1. Your Periods Are Irregular
This is one of the most common symptoms of PCOS. Due to the flood of male hormones, women face irregular periods. However, in some people, these hormones can cause prolonged, heavy periods or no periods at all. Many women also experience pain or cramping in the pelvis.
2. You’re Having Difficulty Conceiving
PCOS prevents the body from ovulating regularly, or sometimes from ovulating at all. The follicles that normally release an egg from the ovary never mature due to lack of hormone, and so they remain in the ovary. This makes PCOS one of the leading causes of fertility issues in women. Pregnancy is possible with PCOS, but extra care and fertility treatments may be required.
3. There’s Excess Hair Growth All Over Your Body
Hirsutism, or the increased accumulation of body hair, is a common symptom of PCOS and occurs from too much testosterone circulating in the female body. In women with PCOS, excess terminal hair can grow on the face or body. Terminal hairs are the darker, courser hairs, usually found in a man’s beard.
4. Oily Skin And Acne
Acne or excess oil on the skin is another side effect brought on by too much testosterone. Even the non-PCOS female body has levels of testosterone, but the amount coursing through the body now is much too high. These levels can cause the unfortunate side effect of hormonal acne.
5. Anxiety And/Or Depression
Depression and anxiety are common in women with PCOS. Hormones affect our moods as well as our bodies and as women experiencing PMS we’re already aware of it. For women with PCOS, feelings of tension, depression, or irritability may be even more severe. PCOS is linked to anxiety in several possible ways—one, that PCOS causes chemical changes in your body that result in anxiety or, two, that the symptoms of PCOS cause anxiety. These symptoms include infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, abnormal hair growth, weight gain, acne and other skin conditions, sleep disturbances, and more.
6. Obesity And/Or Weight Gain
Unexplained, persistent weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, is a sign of the hormonal disorder. With PCOS, you can have trouble metabolizing blood sugar, known as insulin resistance. When you have insulin resistance, your pancreas has to work really hard and make a lot of insulin just to lower your blood sugar. That is linked to weight gain and central obesity.
So, What Can You Do To Manage PCOS? Don’t Fret. We Will Tell You.
7. Stick To A Balanced Diet
Include significant amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and dairy products in your everyday meals. All of these categories of foods will fulfill your body’s nutritional requirements, satiate your hunger, and decrease unhealthy cravings. The active ingredients in these foods help maintain hormonal balance as well. Plus you’ll feel more energized and refreshed.
8. Become Physically Active
A regular fitness regime, such as walking or exercising, is essential to help boost your system and regulate the dysfunctions taking place in your body. Gentle movement or even just a five-minute walk after eating helps mobilize the glucose from your meal into your cells more efficiently. I recommend doing short activities throughout the day after eating, since they can be even more effective for your condition than doing one long, cortisol-producing workout.
9. Increase Your Magnesium Intake
Magnesium is an essential mineral found in all of our tissues, but mainly in our bones, muscles, and brain. It is a critical factor in over 300 body processes including muscle building, maintaining nerve function, keeping a healthy heartbeat, sustaining optimal immune system function and facilitating sleep. Magnesium is a natural anti-inflammatory, making it particularly critical for women with PCOS. Women with PCOS should increase their intake of this mineral. You can also try Epsom salt bath or a magnesium oil spray.
