What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a genetic, hormonal, metabolic and reproductive disorder that affects adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. It is the most common health problem in females caused by an imbalance of hormones. Generally symptoms of PCOS begin during the teenage years around the start of menstruation and can be mild or severe. PCOS may also develop later during the reproductive years, for instance, in response to substantial weight gain. Any girl, irrespective of physique, may have PCOS.
The following parameters are highly related to the condition:
- Obesity
- Genetics
Signs and Symptoms of PCOS
Common Symptoms of PCOS include:
- Irregular periods or no periods at all
- Fatigue
- Low Sex drive
- Difficulty getting pregnant (because of irregular ovulation or failure to ovulate)
- Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) – usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks
- Sudden weight gain
- Thinning hair and hair loss from the head (Male pattern Baldness)
- Uncontrollable acne
- Mood Swings or Anxiety
Not all women with PCOS will have all of the symptoms, and each symptom can vary from mild to severe.
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