Post by alicecoopersgirl on Nov 7, 2005 15:47:51 GMT
I wanted to let you all know about an illness I have,please ask any questions you want...I'll try to answer them.
Symptoms of PCOS
*
Irregular or absent periods
*
Lack of ovulation
*
Excess facial and bodyhair (hirsutism)
*
Weight Gain (mainly around the midsection) and the inability to lose that weight easily
*
Acne and skin complaints
*
Insulin resistance... Once thought to be a symptom but new research proving it could be a cause instead.
*
Thinning of the hair line (male-pattern balding)
*
Darkening of the skin under the arms, around the neck area and under the breasts
*
Difficulty in getting pregnant (if trying)
*
Unexplained tiredness and mood swings and depression are also being reported by sufferers
Information about PCOS
* Polycystic simply means "many cysts"
* PCOS is a badly named condition, as, in the vast majority of women, they do not have ovarian cysts. The small sacs of fluid which are visible at ultrasound scan are immature follicles, which are atretic but are dispersing more slowly than usual.
* PCOS is something you are born with and can be hereditary
* There are ways to treat it and you can have fertility drugs to help you get pregnant, but PCOS is not cureable
You are definitely not alone!
* PCOS is an endocrine disorder which affects between 3-15% of women aged from puberty to childbearing age
* Approximately 6-10% of women who have the condition do not even know they have it!
Weight Gain with PCOS
PCOS relates to larger women as one of the factors of PCOS can be weight gain and finding it very difficult to shift the weight.
The metabolism of a woman with PCOS is thought to differ from that of a woman without it. Women with PCOS use energy from food more efficiently, so relatively more is stored as fat. Advice to eat healthily and get plenty of exercise can be very frustrating for women with PCOS because it is more difficult to lose weight if you have PCOS. Try five smaller meals each day to help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce cravings for sweet or high fat foods. Loss of between 5 and 10% of body weight leads to a significant loss of symptoms.
Between 35 – 60% of women with PCOS are overweight.
Other health issues related to PCOS
Women with PCOS could suffer from high cholestoral, no periods and having difficulty in getting pregnant due to non-release of eggs.
Women suffering from the most severe form of PCOS who are obese are at increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and cancer of the lining ot the womb.
What to do if you think you have PCOS
If you think you may have PCOS you should visit your doctor and explain your symptoms.
The doctor may examine you internally to see if your ovaries are enlarged and may also ask you to go for a blood test (to check your hormone levels) and ultrasound scan to confirm you have PCOS.
If the diagnosis is unclear, for example if it is suspected that you may also have endometriosis or scar tissue due to previous pelvic infection, you may be offered a laparoscopy.
Do not be scared to approach your doctor about this - it is important that if you are suffering from PCOS it is diagnosed and if necessary, treated.
Symptoms of PCOS
*
Irregular or absent periods
*
Lack of ovulation
*
Excess facial and bodyhair (hirsutism)
*
Weight Gain (mainly around the midsection) and the inability to lose that weight easily
*
Acne and skin complaints
*
Insulin resistance... Once thought to be a symptom but new research proving it could be a cause instead.
*
Thinning of the hair line (male-pattern balding)
*
Darkening of the skin under the arms, around the neck area and under the breasts
*
Difficulty in getting pregnant (if trying)
*
Unexplained tiredness and mood swings and depression are also being reported by sufferers
Information about PCOS
* Polycystic simply means "many cysts"
* PCOS is a badly named condition, as, in the vast majority of women, they do not have ovarian cysts. The small sacs of fluid which are visible at ultrasound scan are immature follicles, which are atretic but are dispersing more slowly than usual.
* PCOS is something you are born with and can be hereditary
* There are ways to treat it and you can have fertility drugs to help you get pregnant, but PCOS is not cureable
You are definitely not alone!
* PCOS is an endocrine disorder which affects between 3-15% of women aged from puberty to childbearing age
* Approximately 6-10% of women who have the condition do not even know they have it!
Weight Gain with PCOS
PCOS relates to larger women as one of the factors of PCOS can be weight gain and finding it very difficult to shift the weight.
The metabolism of a woman with PCOS is thought to differ from that of a woman without it. Women with PCOS use energy from food more efficiently, so relatively more is stored as fat. Advice to eat healthily and get plenty of exercise can be very frustrating for women with PCOS because it is more difficult to lose weight if you have PCOS. Try five smaller meals each day to help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce cravings for sweet or high fat foods. Loss of between 5 and 10% of body weight leads to a significant loss of symptoms.
Between 35 – 60% of women with PCOS are overweight.
Other health issues related to PCOS
Women with PCOS could suffer from high cholestoral, no periods and having difficulty in getting pregnant due to non-release of eggs.
Women suffering from the most severe form of PCOS who are obese are at increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and cancer of the lining ot the womb.
What to do if you think you have PCOS
If you think you may have PCOS you should visit your doctor and explain your symptoms.
The doctor may examine you internally to see if your ovaries are enlarged and may also ask you to go for a blood test (to check your hormone levels) and ultrasound scan to confirm you have PCOS.
If the diagnosis is unclear, for example if it is suspected that you may also have endometriosis or scar tissue due to previous pelvic infection, you may be offered a laparoscopy.
Do not be scared to approach your doctor about this - it is important that if you are suffering from PCOS it is diagnosed and if necessary, treated.