September Is....

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What is PCOS?

So basically it is an annoying thing that some women deal with and some deal with that don't even know it!  I recently have had multiple friends tell me they were diagnosed and my heart just breaks.  I pray that they can get their symptoms under control and that they do not have any infertility issues along with any real health issues.  

Below is a more formal definition....

PCOS is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, and is one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders in women. PCOS has been recognized and diagnosed for seventy-five years. There are many signs and symptoms that a woman may experience. Since PCOS cannot be diagnosed with one test alone and symptoms vary from woman to woman, PCOS has been known as the “Silent Killer”. Early diagnosis of PCOS is important as it has been linked to an increased risk for developing several medical risks including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Many women may experience weight gain or obesity, yet there are others who may be very lean. Multiple cysts on ovaries in a "string of pearls” pattern is also an indicator for PCOS. In addition, this hormonal imbalance can cause Insulin Resistance, which is also a prime indicator that you may have PCOS. Women suffering from PCOS may experience high testosterone levels, which cause other signs and symptoms such as Hirsutism (excessive hair growth), male pattern baldness and acne. This high level of testosterone can also prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. 

5-10% of women of childbearing age are affected by PCOS, with less than 50% of women diagnosed. This leaves millions of women undiagnosed. PCOS is responsible for 70% of infertility issues in women who have difficulty ovulating. Post menopausal women can also suffer from PCOS.

Studies have shown that approximately 40% of patients with diabetes and/or glucose intolerance between the ages of 20-50 have PCOS. 

In addition, some studies have found that if a mother has PCOS, there is a 50% chance that her daughter will have PCOS.

The good news is that early diagnosis and proper education can help women lower all these risk factors and live a happy, healthier life. source

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Some women with PCOS can grow facial hair this is called Hirsutism.  It's not very cute....

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can range from mild to very severe. Everyone is different and can experience none or some of the symptoms listed below.

PCOS can/is the culprit of the following diseases and side effects:
Heart disease (and other cardiovascular diseases)
Diabetes
Obesity
Endometrial Cancer
Sleep Apnea
Depression
Severe fatigue
Hirsutism
(increased hair growth on chest, face, back, lower stomach, fingers, and toes)
Male pattern hair loss
Secondary Amenoreah
Menorrhagia
Anemia
Infertility
Infrequent or absent periods
Anovulation
(No ovulation)
Oligovulation
(Infrequent/irregular ovulation)
Ovarian cysts
Acne
Acanthosis Nigricans
(patches of dark, thickened, velvety skin behind neck, or thighs, .. usually from inuslin resistance)
Insulin Resistance
(The body doesn't respond well to insulin, the primary hormone which helps the body use and deal with glucose or sugar. This causes elevated blood glucose levels and is a major risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes.) So basically someone without PCOS can eat a cookie or a slice of bread and your body breaks down the sugar.... a woman with PCOS eats a cookie or slice of bread and BOOM right to the belly!!
High cholesterol
Skin tags
High blood pressure
Sleep Apnea or snoring

Like I said above, every woman has a different degree of PCOS symptoms. Just like snowflakes, no two (cases) are exactly the same.. which is what makes it so difficult to regulate sometimes. So it is important to visit your doctor for tests, educate yourself, and take care of yourself regardless if you have PCOS or not. You get only one body.. treat it right.

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The weight gain oh my, it seems to just creep on women with PCOS.   Yeah sure, a bunch of happy hours with the girls, late nights at Taco Cabana, and DVR surfing on the couch certainly doesn't help.....but 50 pounds in a year is a real creep up.  This can happen at different ages (16 or 25), it just depends on when your levels are the worst.  Thankfully with the help of a little drug called Metformin along with a LIFESTYLE change that includes a balanced diet (preferably with no or low carbs) and exercise, a healthier weight can be achieved.  The side affects of metformin are great and can cause some ummmmm issues but doctors feel that those side effects outweigh what PCOS could do without.  Plus, if you take your medicine habitually the "issues" will subside after about 2 weeks.  

Metformin (also known as Glucophage®) helps to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It makes your body more sensitive to insulin, and decreases the amount of glucose your liver releases. Young women with high insulin who take Metformin are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t take a medication that lowers insulin. Research studies have shown that young women with PCOS who are overweight and who were treated with Metformin and a healthy lifestyle (healthy nutrition and exercise) were able to lose weight and lower their fasting blood sugar. Taking Metformin and maintaining a healthy weight also improves cholesterol levels. Metformin is not approved by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) for PCOS, but it’s commonly prescribed for this condition. source 

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Infertility, the silent torture that millions of women face every single day.  The constant feeling of what is wrong with me?  Why? The feeling of guilt when you see that everyone is getting pregnant, well besides YOU!!! Hearing "something must be in the water" and the chick with PCOS is like "yeah, can you bottle that up and send it to my house, k thanks." 

Fertility treatments are so so expensive!  One IUI cycle can cost approximately $1000 each time.  The average woman does at least 3-6 cycles before moving on to something else, quitting, or finally becoming pregnant!

IVF costs approximately $12,000 which doesn't include the cost of the medication needed before which is between $3000-$5000.   All this just to have the chance to have a baby.

Some women are able to get pregnant just by taking the drug, Metformin.  This is known to help regulate hormones and encourage ovulation.  Or in addition to metformin a drug named climid can assist with helping a woman become pregnant.  Clomid can raise the the probability for multiples/twins.....woooohooo!   What is crazy is the FDA has not approved the use of metformin for women with PCOS.... hmmm

Some women with PCOS do not have fertility issues. PCOS is like a kaleidoscope and no two cases are exactly the same.  Some women are super skinny but have bad acne, facial hair., and cannot get pregnant.  Some women are overweight and have male pattern baldness with zero issues becoming pregnant.  Some women do not experience any physical symptoms but have internal symptoms/effects like diabetes, heart disease, or depression.

No matter what the symptoms are, all woman with PCOS are fighting a big fight..... or fights actually.  The constant criticism, feelings of doubt, feeling not pretty, tired, alone, FAT, broken, depressed, etc. the list goes on and on.  My mother had PCOS and was diagnosed when she was 20 years old.  She fought like hell to have a child and through many tears, her and my father were blessed with two children of their own. 

I was not officially diagnosed until I was 21 years old.  Yep, I have PCOS! It sucks, I hate it, but I am dealing with it.  I did not have severe symptoms until I was about 23, although throughout high school my mother told me "you have PCOS".  I have had many lows and highs and am proud to be a "Cyster".  Thankfully I am no longer a pre diabetic, I have lost close to 50 pounds, and my cholesterol levels are on point!! woohoo!! As I go through my own journey with PCOS and the side effects, such as infertility, I will remember to have faith and know that I am strong woman and will never give up.   I hope that this post brings awareness and hope to at least one person, if that is the case then my job is done!