National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is an illness that affects about 10 million people worldwide.

“affects 1 in 10 women worldwide.”

"Between 5% and 10% of women between 15 and 44 have PCOS"

Symptoms:

• Weight gain

• Fatigue

• Excess hair growth on faces, arms, etc. Thinning hair on the head

• Infertility

• Acne

• Mood changes Pelvic pain headaches

• Sleep problems

There currently is no cure but there are some medicines a doctor can recommend to help with some symptoms (ex. birth control for irregular periods).

“Recent studies found that:

• More than 50 percent of women with PCOS will have diabetes or pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) before the age of 40.

• The risk of heart attack is 4 to 7 times higher in women with PCOS than women of the same age without PCOS.

• Women with PCOS are at greater risk of having high blood pressure.

• Women with PCOS have high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

• Women with PCOS can develop sleep apnea. This is when breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep.

• Women with PCOS may also develop anxiety and depression.

• Women with PCOS are also at risk for endometrial cancer."

SOURCES:

www.pcosaa.org/overview

www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/polycystic-ovary-syndrome