Part 1: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Don’t be surprised if you hear, “I have that too."

    Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is a very common, and miss diagnosed condition, among women between the ages of 20-40.  And can cause infertility with polycystic ovaries. The statics vary as to how many women have PCOS because the criteria for the condition is always changing. But here is what I found under The National Institutes Of Health. One in every 10-15 women gets diagnosed with PCOS. I also heard that about 50% of women do not know they have PCOS. Via, pcosdiva.com I also found on the site, rightdiagnoisis.com that about 50% of women are insulin resistant. The typical age bracket for being insulin resistant is about 20-40 years of age. 

And about only 30% have symptoms of PCOS.

PCOS is a syndrome that not only affects fertility but can affect metabolism, insulin levels, high blood pressure and much more. t is a syndrome that not only affects fertility but can affect metabolism, insulin levels, high blood pressure and much more. How to diagnose?
Your doctor can order testing if you have signs/symptoms of PCOS. The most common test is an internal ultrasound of the ovaries. 

 Your Doctor may also want to do a full work up of your blood. And because PCOS is connected to a series of more serious health conditions, Your doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist. Where they can do a full blood panel. The following is a list of treatments your doctor may recommend to help you manage and live with your PCOS. 

The signs and symptoms are never exact for every single woman, but here is a list to discuss with your doctor, if you or someone you know may have PCOS.

Symptoms and signs 

• Irregular menstrual cycles (oligomenorrhea)
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Hirsutism- excess hair growth on face and body • Sleep apnea
• High cholesterol and high triglycerides
• Darkened patches of skin (acanthosis nigricans) • Multiple follicles (cysts) on the ovaries
• Increase in stress levels
• High blood pressure
• Skin tags
• Infertility
• Fatigue
• Thinning hair (male pattern balding)
• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Pelvic pain
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Decreased sex drive 

Treatment For PCOS

Birth control pills 

• Insulin sensitizing medication
• Weight loss
• Medications for increased hair growth or extra male hormone
• Fertility treatments:
• Ovulation cycles
• Inseminations
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
• Fertility medications
• Surgery or procedures:
• Ovarian drilling
• Oophorectomy 

• Hysterectomy
• Cyst aspiration
• Lifestyle modifications:
• Nutrition education
• Modifying your diet
• Exercise
• Nonsmoking
• Meditation for anxiety, breathing, depression, and stress 

 This information can be  found On PCOSfoundation.org 

    

    It has also been reported that girls as young at 11 years old can be diagnosed with PCOS once they have had their first period.  PCOS, can also cause an increase in some cancers like The risk of cancer of the endometrium (pronounced en-doh-MEE-tree-uhm), the inside lining of the uterus, is three times as high for women with PCOS as it is for other women. Irregular periods, or a lack of periods, can cause the endometrium to build up and become thick. 

-> https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/PCOS/conditioninfo/Pages/cancer.aspx 

The following <— PCOS increases the risk of some types of cancer.

The risk of cancer of the endometrium (pronounced en-doh-MEE-tree-uhm), the inside lining of the uterus, is three times as high for women with PCOS as it is for other women.1 Irregular periods, or a lack of periods, can cause the endometrium to build up and become thick. This thickening can lead to endometrial cancer.2,3,4

Women with PCOS also may be at higher risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Small studies have suggested that a lack of ovulation (anovulation), as occurs with PCOS, is linked with a risk of breast cancer that is three to four times that of women without anovulation.1 In other research, results showed more than a doubling of the risk of ovarian cancer in women with PCOS,5 but scientists have not confirmed these links in large population studies.

Are there disorders or conditions associated with PCOS

Women with PCOS are at higher risk for several other health conditions, some of them serious. These conditions, while common in women with PCOS, are not considered symptoms of PCOS. Doctors usually treat the associated conditions in addition to treating PCOS. Conditions commonly associated with PCOS are described below.

Insulin resistance

Metabolic syndrome

Type 2 diabetes

Obesity

Heart disease and high blood pressure (cardiovascular disease)

Obstructive sleep apnea

Mood disorders

Inflammation

Insulin Resistance:

Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream into cells to use as energy. Glucose in the blood is the body's main source of fuel. When cells don't respond to insulin, the level of glucose in the blood rises. In addition, the level of insulin goes up as the body produces more and more of it to try to get glucose into the cells.

High levels of insulin can increase appetite and lead to weight gain.1 In addition:

    •    Too much glucose and insulin in the blood can lead to serious health conditions, including metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

    •    A symptom of PCOS called acanthosis nigricans (pronounced ay-kan-THOE-sis NY-grih-kanz)—patches of thickened, dark, velvety skin—is associated with insulin resistance.1

    •    Too much insulin increases the production of androgens by the ovaries.2 Having abnormally high androgens causes many of the symptoms of PCOS.

    •    About 50% to 70% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance.3

Metabolic Syndrome:

This syndrome occurs when the body is not able to balance all the chemicals and processes it needs to create and use energy. Its features include insulin resistance, high blood sugar, obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

    •    Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for diabetes and heart disease.

    •    Insulin resistance increases the production of androgens.

    •    About one in three women with PCOS also has metabolic syndrome.1

Type 2 Diabetes:

In people with diabetes, the body has stopped producing insulin or does not use it properly. As a result, the glucose level in the blood rises, but the cells don't get the glucose they need for energy. If the blood glucose level is high for prolonged periods of time or on a regular basis, the condition is called diabetes.

    •    If not managed, diabetes can cause serious damage to the kidneys and can lead to blindness, nerve damage, and hearing loss.4

    •    Type 2 diabetes also increases the risk for heart disease and high blood pressure.

    •    More than 50% of women with PCOS will have either type 2 diabetes or prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) before age 40.5

Obesity is a condition in which the body stores more fat than is healthy based on a person's height and body type. Obesity in women with PCOS may result from imbalanced hormone levels, increased deposition of fat due to higher insulin levels, metabolic dysfunction (problems with how the body stores and uses energy), or a combination of these factors.

    •    Obesity can lead to serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

    •    As many as 80% of women with PCOS are obese.

Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure (Cardiovascular Disease)

Cardiovascular disease includes a range of different conditions:

    •    Coronary artery disease

    •    This is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart.

    •    Coronary artery disease can lead to heart attack, heart failure, or an irregular heartbeat, also called an arrhythmia (pronounced uh-RITH-mee-uh).6

    •    Atherosclerosis (pronounced ath-uh-roh-skluh-ROH-sis), or hardening of the arteries

    •    Women with PCOS have high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), sometimes called "bad" cholesterol, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), sometimes called "good" cholesterol. Both problems are linked to atherosclerosis.2

    •    High blood pressure

    •    Women with PCOS are at increased risk for high blood pressure.7

    •    High blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke. During a stroke, the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain are blocked or broken open so that oxygen and other essential factors are not delivered to the brain cells. Stroke can cause serious disability and even death.8

    •    Cardiomyopathy (pronounced kahr-dee-oh-mahy-OP-uh-thee)

    •    With this condition, the heart muscle becomes larger, thick, and hard, making the heart less able to pump blood to the body.9

Several factors related to PCOS, including insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and obesity, increase a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease.1

Heart disease is the leading killer of women in the United States,5 and several studies have found that women with PCOS are at increased risk forObstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive (pronounced uhb-STRUHKT-ihv) sleep apnea (pronounced AP-nee-uh) occurs when a person's airway becomes too narrow during sleep. When people sleep, the muscles that keep the airway open to relax. In some people, the relaxed muscles allow the airway to narrow or close for a short time. As a result, breathing stops for several seconds. Often, when the person starts breathing again, he or she makes a snorting or choking sound.

    •    Sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, obesity, and diabetes.12

    •    Women with PCOS are at much higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea than are other women.13 This risk is even higher among women with PCOS who are obese.

Mood Disorders:

Women with PCOS are more likely to have mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety, or to engage in out-of-control (or binge) eating. Certain features of PCOS may contribute to the increased risk of mood disorders. For example:

    •    Abnormal levels of androgens and other hormones are related to mood disorders.2

    •    Obesity is linked to mood disorders as well as to abnormal hormone levels. Studies show that the risk of mood disorders is even greater among women with PCOS who are also obese.2,14

Inflammation:

Inflammation is the body's normal protective response to infection or injury. However, inflammation is also involved in several dangerous conditions, such as hardened arteries, which are a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Some evidence suggests that women with PCOS experience long-term, low-level inflammation.

Currently, it's not clear whether this inflammation results from obesity and metabolic dysfunction, which are also common among women with PCOS, or whether it is an independent symptom of the disorder. It's also not clear whether chronic, low-level inflammation might have long-term health consequences for women with PCOS. Ongoing research on these questions should help to clarify the role of inflammation in PCOS.

    For additional information, I highly recommend you follow Melissa Romas. A nutritionist with a background in Chinese medicine. Women’s health expert. Founder, of Sexyfoodtherapy.com Her latest video on youtube Natural treatment for PCOS. Episode 8. (Holistic.) Go to her website, sexyfoodtherapy.com and download her free PCOS guide. In episode 8 of her youtube channel, Melissa talks about treating PCOS naturally. (I will put the link onto the google+ account for the abler.) She not only is very knowledgeable in PCOS, and overall woman’s health, but she also has a very down to earth, and humorous outlook toward it all. In my personal opinion, she is one of the few who doesn’t sugarcoat anything. On her website, sexyfoodtherapy.com she lists these 4 tips for fertility, food, and PCOS:

    

1.    Remove all gluten and dairy For a while. Replace with things like unsweetened almond milk, nut-based bread.

    2.     Remove sugar. Alt. Stevia.

    3.    Castor oil. (Go to the site to read how Melissa suggests you use it.)

    4.    Coffee. Causes inflammation, and stress the adrenal glands. Hormone issues, and PCOS/Ovarian Cysts. (Visit her site for an alt.)

(I have posted her episode 8 video: Natural Treatment For PCOS on my Google+ account: Under PCOS visuals.)

I would also like to recommend that you follow Amy Melding, founder of pcosdiva.com That’s where I came across another condition that is linked to PCOS called,  Hidradenitis Suppuratira. I did further research and came across this information from Verywell.com. 

while HS does affect both men and woman, HS is also one of the most common issues linked to PCOS.

What Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa? Is a chronic inflammatory skin condition which is linked to PCOS. HS is pea-size or larger lumps above and or under the skin. Around hair follicles, and where the skin can rub together. IE. Under the arms, thighs, groin area, under the breasts,  and between the buttocks. HS Can be very painful. The lumps can be inflamed. HS starts for women when they start puberty and can worsen over time. It can spread to other places by connecting of tunnels under the skin. HS is both autoimmune and hormone imbalance. It also involves the androgens. HS can by managed by following an anti-inflammatory diet like this one.

: avoid sugar, white flour, and wheat

: Well balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables

: Eating cold water or fatty fish like tuna, trout, or salmon at least 2 a week.

: Eating a lot of unsaturated fats like avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.

It has also been noted that avoiding wheat and brewer’s yeast for an entire year, showed significant changes when it came to keeping their symptoms stable. 

Additional information on HS can be found at this link: https://www.humira.com/hidradenitis-suppurativa/what-is-hs?cid=ppc_ppd_ggl_hs_bv_2016_hidradenitis_suppurativa_Exact_65U1844130&gclid=CNGE39nXgdQCFQueNwodTm4CBQ&gclsrc=ds

These are some conditions not listed above. That also has a higher risk factor if women are considered obese. From the mayoclinic.com 

Metabolic syndrome: a cluster of signs and symptoms that indicate a significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Abnormal uterine bleeding 

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: a severe liver inflammation. Caused by fat accumulation in the liver.

Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. 

Cholesterol and liquid abnormalities, IE. The HDL, (The Good Cholesterol.) 

The following symptoms are from:PCOSGirl.com 

: Tubular breasts 

: Sugar cravings

: Pelvic pain

: Skin tags /dark spots

: Acne 

: Thinning hair

: Facial hair 

ECT. 

You can see the complete list at PCOSGirl.com 

I also came across an article in the Huffington Post written by, Heather Huhman. You can read it here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heather-huhman/frustrating-facts-about-pcos_b_7686030.htm

The Following “fact sheet” was found via Pinterest. And I advise all women to consult with their doctor. About the following. 

: As women with PCOS, get older, their chances of pregnancy may increase. The reproductive peak with PCOS is often later.

: PCOS can cause hair loss called, Androgenetic Alopecia

: PCOS is a genetic condition, even the men carry the genes for PCOS. 

: Many women with moderate or severe acne have PCOS.

(I only listed ones I did not list earlier. To avoid sounding repetitive.)

During my research, I asked a general question what specifically it was that ladies wanted to know about PCOS. And the response was overwhelming. One of my friends wanted me to stress that PCOS, can and is typically linked to more serious conditions. And there for all women should be open to further exploration when it comes to their own personal health, and follow through by seeing any preferred specialists. One friend of mine wanted to know if there was a link to cervical or ovarian cancer with PCOS. I could not find anything that said either was due to PCOS. 

    However, just because I could not find anything does not mean that these cancers aren’t linked to PCOS. And because the symptoms can vary from women to woman, and the criteria for this condition is always changing it wouldn’t hurt to ask your doctor about it. I also learned from a longtime family friend that there is another form of PCOS called, PCO. PCO  is a Polycystic ovary without the other symptoms for a diagnosis for PCOS. PCO Is typically diagnosed and confirmed by the evidence of blood work, and an ultrasound. A symptom of PCO may be irregular or completely missing periods. Go to the following link for more info. ->>>> http://www.natkringoudis.com/difference-pcos-pco-treatment-options/

For further exploration on this topic. You can refer to the following list of resources that were used to write this piece. 

 mayclinic.com

 National Institutes Of Health

PCOSGirl.com

sexyfoodtherapy.com (Free PCOS guide.)

pcosdiva.com

pcosfoundation.org

verywell.com

Humiracom

rightdiagnosis.com 

Pinterest (general search.) 

Authors Note: I want to take the time now to thank Ali Osborne for teaming up with me, and helping me in the research department. I would also like to thank everyone who reached out and helped me by sharing their thoughts, and personal struggles with PCOS. I'd also like to say a very big thank you to a very good family friend of mine and my family’s Mary. For connecting me with Meredith Marx. A traffic reporter for the Baltimore Maryland area. Who has graciously agreed to do an interview with me to talk about her journey with PCOS and her journey with IVF. (This interview will be the 2nd part of this piece.) I would also like to advise everyone that neither Ali or myself are medical experts in this subject. And I strongly advise not to self-diagnose yourself when it comes to your health.