Dare to Care: PCOS

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Symptoms and Causes of PCOS.

Symptoms of PCOS can develop during the first menstrual period or after. Signs and symptoms of PCOS may vary. Symptoms may also be more severe if you're obese. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but there are a number of theories, with a main one being genetics.

Symptoms
  • Irregular periods
  • Weight gain
  • Excess androgen/male hormones
  • Many cysts/follicles inside ovaries
  • Excessive hair growth - e.g. on the face/chin, chest, back, and even buttocks
  • Thinning hair and/or hair loss
  • Oily skin and/or acne
  • Difficulty getting pregnant - i.e. fertility problems or infertile
Symptoms of PCOS
Causes
  • Heredity
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Excess insulin
  • Excess androgen/male homrone
  • Environmental factors - e.g. stress, diet, and exercise
  • Low-grade inflamation - stimulates polycystic ovaries to produce androgens, and may lead to heart and blood vessel problems
Causes of PCOS and estrogen vs testosterone