|
Page: Signs and Symptoms
Main article
| Home > Sexual Health > Signs and Symptoms |
Common symptoms of PCOS include
* Oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea — irregular, few, or absent menstrual periods; cycles that do occur may be heavy (heavy bleeding is also an early warning sign of endometrial cancer, for which women with PCOS are at higher risk)
* Infertility, generally resulting from chronic anovulation (lack of ovulation)
* Elevated serum (blood) levels of androgens (male hormones), specifically testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), causing hirsutism and occasionally masculinization
* Central obesity — "apple-shaped" obesity centered around the lower half of the torso
* Androgenic alopecia (male-pattern baldness)
* Acne, oily skin, seborrhea
* Acanthosis nigricans (dark patches of skin, tan to dark brown or black)
* Acrochordons (skin tags) — tiny flaps of skin
* Prolonged periods of PMS-like symptoms (bloating, mood swings, pelvic pain, backaches)
* Sleep apnea
Mild symptoms of hyperandrogenism, such as acne or hyperseborrhea, are frequent in adolescent girls and are often associated with irregular menstrual cycles. In most instances, these symptoms are transient and only reflect the immaturity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis during the first years following menarche.
Signs are:
* Multiple cysts on the ovaries (one form of ovarian cyst). Sonographically they may look like a string of pearls.
* Enlarged ovaries, generally 1.5 to 3 times larger than normal, resulting from multiple cysts.
* Thickened, smooth, pearl-white outer surface of ovary.
* The ratio of LH (Luteinizing hormone) to FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone) is greater than 1:1, as tested on Day 3 of the menstrual cycle.
* High levels of testosterone.
* Low levels of sex hormone binding globulin.
* Hyperinsulinemia.
|
Important notice:
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other
qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
|