Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Myths about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
September is observed as PCOS awareness month. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition among women of reproductive age and includes symptoms such as an irregular menstrual cycle, acne, thinning hair and weight gain. Women with PCOS have a hormonal imbalance and metabolism problems that may affect their health. Let us debunk some myths related to PCOS
Myth#1
If your menstrual cycle is irregular, you have PCOS Now days, PCOS is certainly very common but is not a sole reason for all irregular periods. There are numerous other causes due to which your menstrual cycle may have gone for a toss.
Stress and lifestyle changes like gaining or losing a significant amount of weight, changes in exercise routines, travel, illness, or other disruptions in a woman’s daily routine can have an impact on her menstrual cycle.Medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, an under- or overactive thyroid gland, or pituitary disorders that affect hormonal balance. disturb your menses.
Local causes such as Uterine polyps, Uterine fibroids, Pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancy are also common causes of irregular periods.
Myth#2
Any Cyst in the ovary is Polycystic Ovaries Polycystic ovaries typically have pearl necklace appearance in the ovaries. The cyst are multiple having diameter of 2-9mm and are arranged peripherally as against other ovarian cysts which are more than 10mm. Hence not every cyst is Polycystic ovary and Polycystic ovaries doesnot mean you have a cyst which needs to be operated.
Myth#3
If I have polycystic ovaries, I have PCOS Having polycystic ovaries doesn’t mean that you have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. A syndrome means a group of symptoms which consistently occur together or a condition characterised by set of associated symptoms. An pelvic ultrasound along with detailed history and examination is required for the diagnosis of PCOS. Many women have cysts but don’t have PCOS. Similarly, women may not have cysts but have signs of PCOS like irregular periods or no periods, high testosterone resulting in extra hair growth on face or body, acne or thinning hair on head and difficulty in losing weight.
Myth #4Single symptoms indicate you have PCOS As discussed earlier, PCOS is a syndrome, so just one sign or symptom is not enough for a diagnosis. Also symptoms in PCOS are on a spectrum of severity, with no clear line separating normal from abnormal.
Myth#5
PCOS is similar and predictable for every person who has it This is a huge myth. The fact is, PCOS is unique to every person who has the condition. There are a wide spectrum of symptoms and severities a patient can experience.
For example, some people with PCOS go months and months without having a period. Other patients have monthly periods that last for weeks. Some people will experience depression and anxiety, while other patients will report stable and cheery moods.
Your hormone levels are personal to you, which is one of the reasons trial and error are required for hormonal treatments. It’s hard to predict how introducing new hormones into your body will interact with your baseline endocrine system.
Myth#6
Everyone with PCOS is obese.I will not get it as I am thin. This is also not true. PCOS can affect women in all different shapes and sizes, thin or overweight. Though PCOS manifestations are generally worse when you’re overweight or obese.
Myth#7
PCOS will get cured if I loose weight Unfortunately, there is no cure for PCOS, but overweight and obese women can help balance their hormone levels and manage their symptoms by losing weight. Weight loss might not help you get rid of PCOS completely. It may help lower blood sugar levels, improve insulin resistance and help regulate your hormones and sometimes help in pregnancy too. Moreover, losing weight is slightly difficult in PCOS. Hence, treatment is aimed at managing symptoms.
Myth#8
I will not get pregnant if I have PCOS Some women with PCOS may have trouble conceiving naturally and may need medication to help them ovulate when they want to conceive. But many women with PCOS conceive spontaneously and achieve their desired family size. In fact many women risks with contraception as they believe they wont get pregnant and a few end up with unintended pregnancies.
Optimising healthy lifestyle (eating healthily, being active and avoiding smoking) is first line management for women with PCOS. However, women with PCOS may face additional barriers to implementing these changes, such as higher levels of anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of access to support.By separating fact from myth, you can empower yourself to live a complete, healthy life with PCOS.