Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?

PCOS, also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome or Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD), is one of the leading causes of infertility in women and affects an estimated 10% of all women, most of whom don稚 even know they have it. Although PCOS is incurable, it can be treated with medications, changes in diet and exercise. PCOS was identified by the medical profession nearly 75 years ago and still has no known cause.

PCOS affects far more than just reproduction. Symptoms include irregular or absent menses, numerous ovarian cysts in many, but not all cases, high blood pressure, acne, elevated insulin levels, insulin resistance or diabetes, infertility, excessive face and body hair, thinning of the scalp hair (alopecia) and weight problems or midsection obesity. Although many of the symptoms center around skin and hair issues, it is NOT just a cosmetic problem.

For the women with PCOS, unwanted facial hair is a curse, a dirty trick of nature. In its severest form, women can have full beards from the cheeks down to the neck and chest areas and beyond, as well as numerous other serious health conditions.

PCOS is not merely an annoying cosmetic problem that causes unwanted facial hair. PCOS can ultimately lead to a host of serious, life-threatening conditions such as diabetes or even heart attacks.

Often a client will start by going to one physician for infertility treatment, then on to another professional for unwanted facial hair and possibly to yet another specialist because of unexplainable weight gain. It is common for a person to see a number of medical and clinical professionals without finding the route cause because each clinician focuses only on the single symptom of his or her specialty. The name, polycystic ovarian syndrome, is misleading because one does not have to have ovarian cysts to have this disease. Because the symptoms of PCOS are disparate, it is easy for a doctor to miss this diagnosis since a client may not have all the associated symptoms. As a result, PCOS is one of the most under-diagnosed of female conditions. In the end, the hair removal professional may be the first person to suggest the client may have this problem.

PCOS was first identified by Drs. Stein and Leventhal in 1935. Despite being recognized for over 70 years and despite extensive research, no one knows exactly why it occurs and it is not possible to accurately predict who will develop PCOS. PCOS can present with a variety of different biochemical abnormalities, the most consistent being hyper secretion of androgens. This may involve elevation of free testosterone (T) and possibly dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). There can also be variable increased production of Lutenizing hormone (LH), acyclic high estrogen production, low sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels, and hyperinsulinemia (too much insulin production).

There is some evidence that genes may promote susceptibility towards development of PCOS. Inheritance of PCOS susceptibility seems to be equally probable from the maternal as from the paternal side of the family. It is estimated that a woman痴 risk for developing PCOS increases to 40% if she has an affected sister, but a lower risk rate if other family members are affected.

It is no longer appropriate to expect a person to have all of the symptoms of PCOS. Thin women have PCOS; so can women who have had children. The variety of symptoms complicates the diagnosis. Diagnosis requires blood tests to check numerous hormone levels. Myths are rampant when it comes to understanding this condition and it is not enough to rely on a bit of information here or there. It is important that anyone suspected of having PCOS be under the care of a medical professional experienced in treating PCOS.

As hair removal specialists, we can offer moral support and encouragement to our PCOS clients. In my years of practice, I have had excellent results in treating this unwanted facial hair, especially if treatments are accompanied by professional medical management by a caring OB/GYN or ENDOCRINOLOGIST. I have encountered clients as young as 16 years and as old as 55 plus with undiagnosed polycystic ovarian syndrome. Left untreated, PCOS can lead to adult onset diabetes, hardening of the arteries and heart failure.

Any woman with a diagnosis of PCOS should get checked for adult onset diabetes and high blood pressure by age 30 and regularly thereafter. While PCOS cannot be cured, it can be treated and controlled. An excellent resource for information for the client is the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association. You can access this information on their website at www.pcosupport.org.