The disorder polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) alters a woman’s hormone levels. PCOS causes women to generate more male hormones than they should. This hormonal imbalance leads them to miss menstrual cycles, making it difficult for them to conceive.
Hair growth on the face and body, as well as baldness, are all symptoms of PCOS. It can also lead to long-term health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Birth control pills and diabetes medications that treat insulin resistance, which is a sign of PCOS, can help correct the hormone imbalance and alleviate symptoms.
PCOS’s precise etiology is unclear. Early detection and treatment, as well as weight loss, can help to lower the risk of long-term consequences, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
PCOS in detail
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects women during their reproductive years, generally between the ages of 15 and 44. Many women are unaware that they have PCOS. PCOS is a condition that affects a woman’s ovaries, which are reproductive organs that generate oestrogen and progesterone, which control the menstrual cycle. Male hormones termed androgens are also produced in tiny amounts by the ovaries.
Many tiny, fluid-filled sacs develop inside the ovaries as a result of PCOS. The term polycystic refers to a large number of cysts. Each of these sacs is a follicle, which contains an immature egg. Ovulation is never triggered because the eggs are never developed enough. The absence of ovulation affects oestrogen and progesterone levels. The levels of progesterone are lower than typical, while the levels of androgen are greater than usual.
Potential causes
Doctors are baffled as to what causes PCOS. High amounts of male hormones, they believe, hinder the ovaries from generating hormones and developing eggs properly. Excess testosterone production has been associated with genes, insulin resistance, and inflammation.
Genetics
Many studies show that this condition is in the genes of the people. There are greater chances of a person having PCOS if it runs in their family history. Therefore, keep an eye on your family history about this condition.
Insulin resistance
Insulin is a hormone that the pancreas generates that helps cells to utilize sugar, which is your body’s main source of energy. Your blood sugar levels may rise, and your body may generate more insulin if your cells grow resistant to the effects of insulin. Excess insulin may boost testosterone production, making ovulation problematic.
Insulin resistance affects up to 70% of women with PCOS, which means their cells can’t utilize insulin correctly. Insulin is a hormone that the pancreas produces that aids the body’s utilization of sugar from food for energy. When cells are unable to adequately utilize insulin, the body’s need for it rises. To compensate, the pancreas produces extra insulin. Extra insulin stimulates the production of masculine hormones by the ovaries.
Inflammation
Inflammation levels in women with PCOS are frequently in the higher range. They can also get high if the patient is obese. High levels of androgen can also cause excessive inflammation and studies prove that.
