PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal condition that affects approximately six to 21 per cent of women. It is also known as Metabolic Syndrome, or Syndrome X.
PCOS is characterised by increased male hormones in the bloodstream, skin problems and tiny ovarian cysts. The cysts are immature follicles that didn’t grow release an egg.
What Are The Symptoms?
Symptoms can include difficulty losing weight and/or maintaining a healthy weight, irregular periods and blemished, oily and acned skin. Thinning hair on the scalp, increased face and body hair, skin tags and pigmented skin on the neck are other symptoms. Difficulty conceiving a baby naturally is a symptom too.
While the condition is frequently associated with being overweight, approximately 20 percent of women with it are quite lean. It can take longer for these women to be diagnosed. If you are quite thin and you think you may have it, look for symptoms as mentioned above.
Can PCOS Cause Infertility?
It can make it difficult for women to conceive a baby naturally, because it is associated with irregular or infrequent ovulation. However, a positive diagnosis doesn’t mean you can’t have a baby. In fact, the majority of women who are diagnosed with the condition do go on to fall pregnant naturally and have healthy, happy babies.
If you receive a positive diagnoses Dr. Raewyn can devise a fertility plan for you. In fact, helping women to fall pregnant with PCOS is one of her specialties. This includes pre-conception care such as fertility tracking, following a healthy diet, taking pre-conception vitamins, implementing stress management techniques and more.
What Can You Do If You Think You Have PCOS?
Speak to your GP and get a referral to see a gynaecologist like Dr Raewyn Teirney.
During your appointment, we will run specific blood tests that test for a rise in the male hormone testosterone, as well as conduct a pelvic scan to view the ovaries. If there are 20 or more follicles present in one ovary, it may indicate PCOS. A third criteria is infrequent or no periods, which indicates lack of ovulation. When two out of these three criteria are present, a positive diagnosis is typically concluded.
During your consultation, Dr Raewyn can also talk to you at length about the lifestyle tweaks you can make to ease the symptoms, such as diet and weight management. She can also discuss any medication that may help your condition.
