What Symptoms and Conditions are Caused by PCOS?

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(text on screen): Ask the Expert

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What symptoms and conditions are caused by PCOS?

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Bruce Albrecht, MD, Founder Albrecht Women’s Care: The diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome is more and more frequent.

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It used to be thought of as only 5 to 10 percent of women in the reproductive age range. Now, we recognize that it’s probably 15 percent or more.

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It’s the most common endocrine abnormality in women.

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We know that it is really not just a problem with the ovaries. The main polycystic ovary is sort of a misnomer.

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We now know that it really is a metabolic problem, and as a metabolic problem, some of the side effects of the abnormalities

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are to create problems with the ovary function, adrenal function,

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and, consequently, having the problems with the reproductive system, problems with ovulation, problems with the menstrual cycles.

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So, in young women it presents as problems with menstrual periods and cosmetic issues, oftentimes: the hair growth and acne.

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In the women in her reproductive years, it’s a problem, again, with irregular menstrual cycles and ovulation, not ovulating,

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so that those women have difficulties getting pregnant.

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And then it sort of transitions beyond to that to problems; the metabolic problems where there are problems with an increased frequency of diabetes.

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Diabetes is a much more common problem in our country nowadays. But in general it becomes a bigger problem after the age of 50.

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But in polycystic ovarian syndrome women it tends to occur approximately 15 years earlier, so it may occur in the 30s

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and so in the 30s and 40s, Type 2 diabetes can be much more common,

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and then because of the abnormalities with the lipids, the elevated lipids and triglycerides, it then transitions into a problem for menopausal women

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because of an increased risk of heart disease because of the irregular menstrual cycles and the ovulation problems.

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In addition, the problem that occurs as women get older is an increased risk of cancers, particularly endometrial cancer, but ovarian cancer to some degree as well.

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But the endometrial cancer tends, in most women, to occur not until after age 50, whereas in polycystic ovary syndrome women it can occur much earlier,

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and in fact if you look at women who do develop polycystic ovary syndrome in their 30s, essentially all of them have got polycystic ovary syndrome.

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So, it’s a lifelong condition.

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