You may think you’re just a normal person if you have oily skin, missed periods, or trouble managing your weight. These frustrations could be a sign that you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and should be taken very seriously.
You may not experience all of the symptoms, maybe just a few. Women usually take quite some time — even years — to discover they have this condition due to lack of education and awareness.
Common Symptoms of PCOS
PCOS symptoms include:
- Hair growth in unwanted areas. Hirsutism may be the name your doctor uses for this condition. Unwanted hair may grow on your face or chin, breasts, stomach, or fingers and toes.
- Loss of hair. PCOS can cause thinning hair on the head, which may worsen as a woman ages.
- Oily skin and acne
- Skin darkening. A thick, dark, velvety patch of skin may appear under your arms or breasts, on your back or in your groin area. Acanthosis nigricans is the name for this condition.
- Tiredness or difficulty sleeping. It may be difficult for you to fall asleep. Perhaps you suffer from sleep apnea. Even when you sleep, you are not well-rested after waking up.
- Having headaches. PCOS is also associated with surges of hormones that cause headaches.
- Periodical irregularities. Periods may not occur, you may have longer cycles and you might not ovulate which then leads to even more problems.
- Having trouble getting pregnant. A lack of regular periods can make getting pregnant difficult. Infertility is a common problem caused by PCOS.
- Gaining weight. PCOS is associated with weight gain or a hard time losing weight in half of the women. Women with PCOS are more likely to gain weight. Obesity can make PCOS symptoms worse.
Weight loss has actually been shown to alleviate many of these symptoms, encourage ovulation to return, reduce insulin resistance and increase your life happiness. If you have PCOS, losing weight can keep your cholesterol and blood sugar levels in check.
How to get a diagnosis?
If you think you might have PCOS, it is possible to test for PCOS by doing blood tests or an ultrasound, however sometimes you can still have the condition even if your bloods are normal.
If you have any of the symptoms, I would encourage you to focus on your diet and lifestyle and make changes to reduce insulin, lower inflammation and remove hormone disruptors.
At the end of the day, all females have fragile hormones that need to be looked after and how we eat has a direct influence on how they behave.
Once I changed my diet and lifestyle, I reversed my PCOS naturally and all my symptoms disappeared after staying consistent and committed. Let me help you do exactly the same!
You can email me on georgie@itsapcosparty.com for more information of how we can work together!
