PCOS - Renewal Hormone Center

What is PCOS?

PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a common hormonal disorder that affects women. An estimated 5-10% of women of reproductive age have PCOS.

The main signs and symptoms of PCOS include:

• Irregular or missed menstrual cycles - Women with PCOS often have infrequent, irregular, or prolonged menstrual cycles due to hormone imbalances
• Excess androgen levels - Women with PCOS tend to have higher than normal levels of androgens like testosterone. This can cause symptoms like excess facial and body hair growth, adult acne, and baldness.
• Ovarian cysts - PCOS causes the ovaries to develop many small cysts along the outer edges. While these cysts are generally harmless, they are a hallmark of the disorder.

While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, it often runs in families and is linked to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance causes the body to produce more insulin to help cells take in glucose, which raises insulin levels further. High insulin levels then promote the oversecretion of androgens like testosterone.

PCOS has no cure, but symptoms can be managed with lifestyle changes and medications:

• Losing weight can help restore regular menstrual cycles and ovulation. It also reduces insulin and androgen levels.
• Birth control pills can regulate menstrual cycles and help clear severe acne.
• Diabetes medications like metformin can treat insulin resistance and regulate ovulation.
• Anti-androgens like spironolactone blocks the effect of excess androgens.

If lifestyle measures do not restore ovulation, fertility treatments like ovulation induction medications or IVF may be necessary to help women with PCOS become pregnant.

Left untreated, PCOS puts women at higher risk for serious long term health complications like diabetes, heart disease, endometrial cancer, and depression. So getting an early and accurate diagnosis is important.

If you suspect you may have PCOS based on irregular cycles or other symptoms, consider getting evaluated by the hormone experts at Renewal Hormone Center. Their compassionate providers specialize in accurately diagnosing and holistically treating hormone conditions like PCOS. Schedule a consultation today to discuss treatment options that can help you take control of PCOS and improve wellbeing.