Symptoms of PCOS may include:
- Irregular or absent menstrual periods
- Infertility or reduced fertility
- Hirsutism (excess hair growth on the face, chest and stomach)
- Alopecia (scalp hair loss)
- Acne
- Obesity and difficulty losing weight
- Acanthosis Nigricans (dark skin pigmentation)
- Increased risk of miscarriage
Having PCOS does not necessarily mean you will develop all these - for reasons we don't yet fully understand, some women have only a few mild symptoms of PCOS, while others may suffer from all or most of these symptoms. We have explained these symptoms in a bit more detail below.
Menstrual disturbances may include irregular or absent menstrual periods and increased and/or painful bleeding. This is usually a result of anovulation (lack of ovulation), which may also result in infertility or reduced fertility..
Acne can be a major problem for many women with PCOS, and is caused by an increased level of male hormones (known as hyperandrogenism) or an increased response of the skin to these hormone levels.
Hirsutism is male pattern hair growth in women, including facial hair and hair on the stomach, back, thighs, neck and chest and is again the result of increased levels of male hormones, or by hair follicles that are more sensitive to male hormones. Loss of hair from the scalp, or male-pattern baldness (alopecia) may also be seen..
Obesity is commonly seen in women with PCOS who often report a history of easy and/or rapid weight gain and difficulties in losing weight. Weight is generally stored around the waist, rather than the hips and thighs, and it is this type of fat distribution that is linked with insulin resistance and it’s consequences including high blood pressure, high blood fats and diabetes.
Acanthosis Nigricans is a dark, velvety skin pigmentation usually seen on the back of the neck, under the arms and in the groin area. It is strongly associated with insulin resistance and being overweight.
Other: While not often documented in the medical literature, many women also complain of excessive tiredness and fatigue, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), poor memory and difficulites concentrating. We also know that depression is more common in women with PCOS.
For more information or to make an appointment, please email info@pcoshealth.com.au or call 9415 4845.