Polycystic ovarian syndrome
(PCOS) is a complex female endocrine (hormonal) disorder, which can make the
ovaries stop working normally. It is the most common hormonal disorder in women
of reproductive age.
PCOS can disrupt many aspects
of woman’s life, including her menstrual cycle, fertility, weight, mood,
appearance, and general health. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, women who suffer from
PCOS have a greater risk of developing several serious health conditions,
including life-threatening diseases such as sleep apnea, heart conditions, and
diabetes. According to their website:
More than 50 percent of women
with PCOS will develop diabetes or pre-diabetes before the age of 40.
- Women with PCOS have a risk of heart attack that is 4 to 7 times higher than women of the same age without PCOS.
- Women with PCOS have higher levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, and are at greater risk of having high blood pressure.
- Women with PCOS are at a much greater risk of suffering from sleep apnea than the general population.
Causes and Risk Factors
PCOS is a complex disorder for which the exact cause is unknown. Experts, doctors, and researchers have been searching for an answer that could pinpoint the cause of PCOS. They have yet to determine a distinct reason, however, several factors are believed to play a significant role in causing PCOS in women. Genetics, hormones, and insulin all create an imbalance in the endocrine system, which has been linked to the development of PCOS.
PCOS is a complex disorder for which the exact cause is unknown. Experts, doctors, and researchers have been searching for an answer that could pinpoint the cause of PCOS. They have yet to determine a distinct reason, however, several factors are believed to play a significant role in causing PCOS in women. Genetics, hormones, and insulin all create an imbalance in the endocrine system, which has been linked to the development of PCOS.
Genetics
Many women with PCOS are likely to have another female family member who also suffers from the syndrome. Determining how genetics play in the cause of PCOS has proven difficult for doctors, as there is a lack of a simple diagnostic test. Also, external factors, like diet, exercise, and other conditions, can affect how the disease develops, so purely relating PCOS to genetics can give a false definition of cause.
PCOS does tend to run in families, though, so it is likely that the syndrome is caused by a mutation in one of more genes. Studies that have been recently conducted on animals indicate that the genetic changes usually occur within the womb. With genetics as a factor, the risk of developing PCOS is higher in women with relatives with the condition, yet the specific related genes are unknown.
Hormones
Excess Androgens Disrupt Hormone Balance
It’s quite normal for women to produce small amounts of androgens, hormones normally associated with men. However, for women with PCOS, the ovaries make excessive amounts of these ‘male’ type hormones in response to elevated insulin levels. Excess androgen production can cause many PCOS symptoms, including the development of masculine characteristics (excess facial hair, male-pattern baldness, adult acne, etc).
Estrogen Dominance Lowers Fertility
Estrogen is the main female hormone. Excess androgens have the ability to convert into estrogen and over time, too much estrogen can suppress regular surges in follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH), the hormone that triggers ovulation. When this happens, ovulation becomes irregular, leading to fertility problems.
Excess Androgens Disrupt Hormone Balance
It’s quite normal for women to produce small amounts of androgens, hormones normally associated with men. However, for women with PCOS, the ovaries make excessive amounts of these ‘male’ type hormones in response to elevated insulin levels. Excess androgen production can cause many PCOS symptoms, including the development of masculine characteristics (excess facial hair, male-pattern baldness, adult acne, etc).
Estrogen Dominance Lowers Fertility
Estrogen is the main female hormone. Excess androgens have the ability to convert into estrogen and over time, too much estrogen can suppress regular surges in follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH), the hormone that triggers ovulation. When this happens, ovulation becomes irregular, leading to fertility problems.
Insulin
Recent developments have shown that insulin and its connection to androgens are a possible cause of PCOS. Insulin decreases production of the hormone SHBG (sex-hormone binding globulin) in which testosterone is carried through the blood. With lower levels of SHBG, testosterone is left to freely circulate through the body.
Women with PCOS often have cells that don’t respond naturally to the body’s insulin production, and the blood sugar level causes a greater amount of insulin to be produced. These high levels of insulin lead to weight gain and appetite issues. Weight gain makes the symptoms of PCOS worse, and extra body fat causes the body to produce more insulin, resulting in a downward spiral for patients.
PCOS and Insulin Resistance Go Hand in Hand
Increased insulin levels in the blood appear to be one of the causes of PCOS. Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas after you eat to help control your blood glucose levels. Excess glucose is stored in the body as a backup source of energy when normal glucose levels have fallen. It is vital that glucose in the blood is maintained at a stable level.
Studies show that PCOS patients have difficulty converting glucose to energy – a condition called Insulin Resistance. When this happens, the body stops responding effectively to the actions of insulin. Excess insulin in the body can cause a host of problems such as acne, excessive body hair, and weight gain, especially around the abdomen.
Again, there is no single answer to what causes PCOS. However, doctors have identified several factors that are linked to the disease. Ongoing research is necessary to find specific genes that may become mutated in relation to PCOS development in families, along with the cause and effect connection between hormones, insulin and androgen production.
Thank you for reading the article about Understanding of Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in blog Get Natural Pregnant and if you found this article useful please bookmark this page in your web browser, by pressing Ctrl D on your keyboard.