POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME

By: Mallory Shelly

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? Polycystic (multiple cysts)

Ovarian(relating to the ovaries) Syndrome, often referred to as PCOS, is an endocrine(of, relating to glands that secrete hormone)disorder that affects a woman’s: Menstrual(The periodic blood

that flows as a discharge from the uterus) cycle

Ability to have children Hormones Heart Blood vessels; and, Appearance

..Continued

• A main underlying problem with PCOS is hormone imbalances

• The ovaries make more androgens (a male sex hormone, such as testosterone) than normal

• High levels of these hormones affect the development and release of eggs during ovulation (part of the female menstrual cycle whereby a mature ovarian follicle discharges an egg)

PCOS affects more than one specific system, making it more-or-less a set of symptoms due to a hormone imbalance in women.

It is the most common endocrine disorder among women between the ages of 18 and 44

An estimated 1 in 10 woman have the illness

How Do Women get PCOS?

The cause of PCOS is unknown.

Most experts think that several factors, including genetics (the study of heredity and the variation of inherited

characteristics), may be part of the cause

Women with PCOS are more likely to have a other family members with it also

Signs and Symptoms

There are several signs and symptoms associated with having PCOS, most of them noticeable from the outward appearance

A woman with PCOS is likely to have

Infertility Amenorrhea Hirsutism Cysts on the ovaries Acne, oily skin, or dandruff Weight gain or obesity, usually

with extra weight around the waist

Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair

Patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black

Skin tags Pelvic pain Anxiety or depression Sleep apnea

Amenorrhea

Most women with PCOS either have amenorrhea(an abnormal

absence of menstruation), or experience irregular periods, called oligomenorrhea

Infertility

Because of the surplus in androgen production, women with PCOS often have irregular ovulation, or even a lack of it (anovulation)

Due to these problems, it can make it sometimes impossible to become pregnant naturally

PCOS and Pregnancy

Women with PCOS are at higher risk for problems and/or complications during pregnancy.

Risk is higher for:

Miscarriage

Gestational Diabetes

Preeclampsia (a condition in

pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure)

Preterm birth

Cesarean or C-section delivery

PCOS and Pregnancy, cont..

In addition to problems during pregnancy, there can be postnatal (after birth) complications.

Some problems that can arise are:

Inability to breastfeed due to under developed breast tissue (from hormonal imbalance)

Infants born to mothers with PCOS are at higher risk of spending time in the neonatal(newborn) intensive care unit or dying before, during, or immediately after birth

Hirsutism

Hirsutism is a condition of unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women. (Due to over-production of testosterone)

Hirsutism results in excessive amounts of thick and dark hair on body areas where men typically grow hair —face, chest and back.

Ovarian Cysts

“Ovarian cysts are closed, sac-like structures within the ovary that are filled with a liquid or semisolid substance.

Pain in the abdomen or pelvis is the most common symptom of an ovarian cyst, but most are asymptomatic.

Most cysts are diagnosed by ultrasound or physical exam.

The treatment of an ovarian cyst depends upon its likely diagnosis and varies from observation and monitoring to surgical treatment” (MedicineNet)

Insulin Resistance Insulin resistance is a condition

in which the body’s cells don’t respond to the effects of insulin(a hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.)

The level of glucose (sugar) in the blood increases and can lead to diabetes (a metabolic disease in which

the body’s inability to produce any or enough insulin causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood.)

The resistance is also associated with Acanthosis Nigricans, which is described on the next slide

Problems with Skin

Skin tags (acrochordons ) are a small tag of skinwhich may have a peduncle (stalk)

Acanthosis nigricans is a

skin condition

characterized by areas of

dark, velvety discoloration

in body folds and creases

Acne the occurrence of inflamed or infected sebaceous (a small gland in the skin which secretes a lubricating oily matter (sebum)glands in the skin

Changes in Hair

Also due to the amount of testosterone (a steroid hormone that stimulates development of male secondary sexual characteristics, produced mainly in the testes, but also in the ovaries and adrenal cortex) in the body of a woman with PCOS, male pattern hair loss or baldness is common, and occurs within almost all patients.

There is also androgenic alopecia (the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows; baldness) that can be associated with having the illness. It’s not the same as male pattern baldness, but it significantly changes the texture, strength and volume of your hair.

Weight and Health Most women that have PCOS tend to

have a body shape such as the apple in the picture to the left, (upper abdominal obesity) due to the insulin resistance.

Facts from WomensHealth.gov: More than 50 percent of women with

PCOS will have diabetes or pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) before the age of 40.

The risk of heart attack is 4 to 7 times higher in women with PCOS than women of the same age without PCOS.

Women with PCOS are at greater risk of hypertension (high blood pressure).

Women with PCOS have high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

Women with PCOS can develop sleep apnea. ( when breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep)

Changes in Mental Health The outward signs and

symptoms of having PCOS can be very saddening and frustrating for a woman.

It is common for women to suffer from depression (feelings of severe despondency and dejection) due to the hirsutism, the alopecia, acne, anything that can affect one’s self esteem

The fear of not being able to bear children can also affect a woman’s mental health

Anxiety (a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. can also arise due to the internal symptoms

Joining a support group is always beneficial to cope

Prevention & Treatment

Unfortunately PCOS is not preventable. There are steps that can be taken to lessen some of the risk factors for diabetes, and other cancers.

Experts recommend

Eating right

Exercising

Not smoking

There are times, when depending on the severity of the case, that your doctor may prescribe birth control to help with hormones

Metformin to control the insulin resistance

Visits to a dermatologist to help with any skins and hair conditions

And an endocrinologist to get the big picture from all other physicians involved.

There is no single treatment that can benefit all women. Each treatment is tailored to an individuals needs.

Overall, weight loss is the number one recommendation for improvements

With you for Life

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome at this time has no cure, but it is recommend that you lead a generally healthy lifestyle to combat the symptoms

Systems Ultimately Affected

The systems that are affected by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome are:

Endocrine System

Reproductive System

Cardiovascular System

Integumentary system

Digestive System

Nervous System (mental health)

(More-or-less, your entire body)

Notes for Women

Here are a list of support groups if you or someone you know is affected by this illness:

PCOS Foundation

Soul Cysters

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association, Inc.

References Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). (2015, March 1). Retrieved April 14,

2015, from http://www.acog.org/-/media/For-Patients/faq121.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20150415T2034136153

EPublications. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.html

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/basics/definition/con-20028841

Does PCOS affect pregnancy? (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/PCOS/conditioninfo/Pages/pregnancy.aspx