7 things every woman should know about polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (commonly known as PCOS) is one of the most common hormone disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in every 5 women – which is why it’s surprising how many of us a) don’t know anything about it or b) find it so hard to find the information we need about it.
Here are 7 things about PCOS everyone with ovaries should know.
1. Doctors don’t know who’ll get it and who won’t
PCOS symptoms generally manifest as a series of bead-like ovarian ‘cysts’, that wreak havoc on each of our body’s glands,’ explains hormone expert and nutritional therapist Angelique Panagos. These follicular cysts are different to regular ovarian cysts – they don’t grow in size or fill with fluid, and you can actually get both kinds at the same time. However, whilst we know the most common physical outcome of the illness, we don’t know why some women develop it and others don’t, and not every women with PCOS will get these cysts either. Confusing, huh! Because so much is still uncertain, it’s impossible to predict who will develop PCOS. It can often run in families, and is related to hormone levels, including insulin production, but any woman can be affected by the condition, and if you’re have it, it’s not because you’re at any kind of fault.