Ever had a feeling that you suddenly want to cry for no apparent reason? That no matter how hard you try to explain what you are going through to the people around you, you know that you cannot because you cannot understand yourself either?
Do you sometimes find yourself waking up at three in the morning, feeling sad and lonely but you cannot figure out what is making you feel that way?
Do you also wonder why despite trying all these diet regimens and weight-loss activities, it is still a challenge for you to lose the extra pounds that you have gained during the holidays?
Fret not, you’re not alone.
You might be experiencing symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or better known as PCOS.
PCOS is known as a “silent battle” among women who are in their reproductive age. While it is a common condition among women, not everyone fully understands what PCOS is and how it affects women’s health. It is said that about 10% of women of reproductive age have this kind of abnormality, according to uclahealth.org – this proves that anyone can have this at any time.
There is no cure for PCOS, there’s no known medicine to help make a woman with this condition feel better. PCOS is a kind of condition where a woman battles her own system. It is her against her own hormones, her own body function. However, there are ways to manage the symptoms and avoid getting complications from having this condition – you only need to be really patient with yourself because managing the symptoms of PCOS really takes a process.
“Acne breakouts on the face, chest and upper back, weight gain and dark skin spots in the creases of the armpits or on the neck are also indications of PCOS,” Dr Jessica Chan said on the Cedars-Sinai Hospital blog when she did a Q&A and was published in 2018.
You must consult your doctor immediately when you experience the following symptoms as this can indicate that you may have PCOS:
- Irregular or no periods
- Difficulty in getting pregnant
- Weight gain
- Excessive hair growth
- Thinning hair on the head or hair loss
- Acne or oily skin
PCOS can also lead to serious complications such as:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Infertility
- Miscarriage or premature birth
- Fatty liver
- A metabolic syndrome that can trigger cardiovascular disease
- Sleep apnea
- Depression, anxiety and eating disorders
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB)
- Endometrial Cancer
While it is part of the said complication of having PCOS, the link between PCOS with anxiety and depression is unclear, but there are theories that support its association. It is mostly circumstantial factors, however, like the physical symptoms like having an excessive facial and body would cause stress, which in turn can lead to anxiety and depression. Most women with this condition are more likely to be obese than those without PCOS and obesity, whether or not related to hormonal imbalance can, at some point, cause depression.
The symptoms and complications related to PCOS may sound scary, but OB-Gynecologists all over the world would agree that managing these symptoms is very easy – it only boils down to having a complete change of lifestyle, involving a healthy and balanced diet.
“Treatments vary depending on the particular phase of the patient’s reproductive life and can include lifestyle changes and medications to help control symptoms. We recommend patients exercise at least 30-40 minutes, 3-4 times a week and stay active on days that they don’t exercise. Carbohydrates-restricted diet is also recommended for women with PCOS because they don’t always process carbohydrates as easily as other women,” explains Dr Chan through cedars-sinai.org
Since it is a challenge for women with PCOS to conceive, fertility medicines are given to help aid them in their quest to get pregnant. However, if fertility medicine treatment is ineffective for the patient, doctors do recommend them to undergo a surgical procedure called the Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling (LOD). In the Philippines, only a few hospitals offer this procedure that helps the patient to get pregnant, with prices ranging from P75,000 or more. Check out medicalpilipinas.com for the list of the hospitals that offer LOD, but it is best to consult the experts first before undergoing such a procedure.
Women are known to endure even the worst pain that this world can throw at them and will still emerge strong after it. PCOS will definitely not stop her from doing what she wants and from being who she wants to be.
