What you should know about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Recently, a Nollywood actress, Juliana Olayode, popularly known as Toyo, shared her struggle with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Psoriasis for four months. According to her, she was diagnosed after observing she didn’t menstruate for a whole year.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by excessive production of androgens, typically found in small quantities in women and considered male sex hormones. “Polycystic ovary syndrome” refers to numerous small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in the ovaries. However, it’s important to note that not all women with this condition have cysts, and conversely, some women without PCOS may develop ovarian cysts.

Someone with PCOS is likely to experience the following symptoms:

Irregular menstruation

PCOS can cause irregular menstruation. This might also come with heavy bleeding, but sometimes, the period might not come.

Struggle with weight gain

 It is quite difficult to maintain the size or body weight. People with PCOS tend to struggle to take charge of their body gain.

Excessive face, arm and chest hair

Women with PCOS can have excess facial, arm and chest hair growth caused by high androgen levels. High androgen levels can also, in rarer cases, cause hair loss and thinning hair from the scalp in women. 

Other signs you need to go get checked are excessive acne break out past puberty, and oddly painful menstrual experience.

There’s no cure for PCOS, but the symptoms mentioned here can be managed by seeing a doctor. 

Some other ways to manage symptoms like being overweight, or losing weight is to take up a nutritional plan that can help regulate the hormone system. 

There are drugs that can be prescribed when you visit the hospital to also help control excessive facial, arm and chest air growth. 

If PCOS is a major cause of infertility, approaching the doctor will help you explore alternate fertility options or surgeries that will yield results. With treatment, most women with PCOS can get pregnant.

Remember that even though there’s no cure for PCOS, the symptoms can be managed for better living. 

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