PCOS: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Cost

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal complication in women that might onset from puberty. Generally, androgens, the male sex hormone, are present in women in smaller amounts, but in the case of PCOS, the ovaries produce a higher amount of the same.

The name, PCOS, is derived from the fact that in several women, cysts form in the ovarian region. This happens when a woman lacks the hormones required for ovulation, causing a disruption to their normal menstrual cycle.

PCOS has no particular time of arising in a woman, making it difficult to anticipate. In some cases, PCOS signs and symptoms appear during their first periods or their child-bearing years. Additionally, some women might see PCOS early symptoms after gaining significant weight. Some common PCOS signs and symptoms to look out for, include:-

• Abnormal Periods - A person’s menstrual cycle is supposed to span between 21 and 35 years, but women with PCOS face missed periods or might shed an abnormal amount of blood (very light or severe bleeding).
• Hirsutism - In nearly 70% of PCOS cases, the person notices excessive facial and body hair growth.
• Acne-Prone Skin - Androgens increase the amount of oil secretion, which can lead to frequent breakouts and other skin conditions.
• Rapid Weight Gain - More than 80% of PCOS/PCOD women notice a sudden gain in weight, especially around the lower abdominal region.
• Skin Pigmentation - In some cases, the folds on your body like the groin and neck might darken in patches.

Researches on the cause of PCOS are still ongoing and the healthcare community is waiting for concrete answers. However, some studies have suggested that it has a genetic predisposition. Experts have yet not established a concrete correlation, but suspect that one’s hereditary also plays an important role.

PCOS has become a common disorder in women, but it is still unclear as to what is the exact cause. Some common PCOS causes that doctors have figured out are:-

• High Levels of The Male Sex Hormone: Women with abnormal secretions of androgens face abnormal menstrual cycles. The irregularity can lead to the formation of sacs that are filled with water (cysts) in the ovary(s).
• Inability to Process the Body’s Insulin: The ovaries use insulin to create and secrete androgens. Thus, an increased amount of insulin can lead to an increased androgen level causing irregularities in ovulation, which might lead to PCOS.
• Genetic Predisposition: As discussed, one might have the genes that doctors have correlated to PCOS. One important point to remember is that it might not be just one gene that leads to PCOS.
• Inflammation: Studies have found that women with higher levels of androgen (one of the foremost PCOS causes) also have excess inflammation.

As of now, there is no concrete way to prevent PCOS, but you can adopt certain measures to decrease the side effects of PCOS. Some common tips for your well-being that might help prevent PCOS include:-

• Try to keep your weight in check to improve your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It might help improve your fertility and restore your normal menstrual cycle.
• Conditions like diabetes damage your insulin levels, which affects your body’s insulin resistance (another cause of PCOS).
• Contraceptives can help get back your hormones to their normal levels, which can regulate your menstrual cycle and help prevent PCOS. It can also help manage some PCOS signs and symptoms.

If you exhibit more than one symptom of PCOS, your doctor will order several tests like blood work or an ultrasound. Some common steps that your healthcare provider will adopt include:-

• Listing your PCOS signs and symptoms and correlating them to your medical history
• Checking for acne, skin conditions, hair loss, excess facial hair, and other physical symptoms
• Assigning different tests to look for probable PCOS causes and understand how to manage the symptoms

The assigned physical tests to diagnose PCOS include:-

• Pelvic examination to understand the negative impacts on the female reproductive system
• Blood tests to check glucose, insulin, and male sex hormone levels. Additionally, these can also help check your triglyceride, insulin, and cholesterol levels to check the risk of heart diseases
• Pelvic ultrasound examinations to detect problems in the uterus like cysts

PCOS can lead to further complications and side effects that can inhibit your capacity to lead a regular lifestyle. These include:-

• Reproductive issues like infertility
• Diabetes type-2 or high blood pressure induced by pregnancy
• Pregnancy complications like premature birth or miscarriage
• Liver inflammation caused due to fat inflammation and not alcohol consumption
• Insomnia and sleep apnea
• Anxiety, eating disorders, and mental health issues
• Abnormal bleeding and uterine shedding
• Cancer of the endometrium/uterus

One of the side effects and complications of PCOS is problems with the female reproductive system. PCOS might lead to some common pregnancy complications, such as:-

• Premature/Pre-term birth: Delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy (premature) can be a risk to the birth giver, as well as, the infant. If the baby survives, it can lead to serious health complications and affect the baby’s regular life.
• Pregnancy Loss/Miscarriage: Studies suggest that women with PCOS are thrice at risk of pregnancy loss in the early stages. However, a few studies suggest that miscarriage can be prevented in women with PCOS with the help of drugs like metformin.
• Increased Blood Pressure (Preeclampsia): Women with PCOS might notice increased blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It can affect the brain, liver, and kidneys of the child-bearer and develop into eclampsia (causing seizures, organ damage, or even death) if left untreated.
• Gestational Diabetes: This form of diabetes is seen only in pregnant women and might cause unnecessary problems for the fetus/mother. The condition might not persist after the baby’s delivery, but the baby and the mother will be at a higher risk of type-2 diabetes.

PCOS causes are complicated and regulating other factors can be possible by adapting certain lifestyle changes. Some popular measures that you can take at home to manage your PCOS include:

• Consume supplements like cinnamon, chromium, inositol, zinc, and turmeric to help with regulating PCOS, inflammation, and insulin levels
• Include probiotics to improve your gut health and digestion, regulate hormonal levels, and reduce inflammation
• Include exercises like pilates, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), running, swimming, and yoga to boost endurance
• Regulate cortisol levels by reducing stress and cutting down on caffeine
• Increase blood flow and improve insulin sensitivity with acupuncture, an alternative treatment for PCOS

Remember that before you choose to adopt alternative treatments and home remedies, you should consult your doctor to understand whether it is safe for you.

When one has PCOS, they need to manage their diet to avoid metabolism problems and hormonal imbalance. Some food types that can help with your PCOS are:-

• Foods with low Glycemic Index (GI) are digested slower than normal avoiding an abrupt rise in insulin levels
• Foods with anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the body’s inflammation levels and omit tiredness for a better and more active lifestyle
• Foods recommended in DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) can also help eliminate the symptoms of PCOS and make it easier to manage

We recommend you consult an expert dietitian before adopting any changes in your regular lifestyle. Other than that, some common guidelines and foods that you can consume with PCOS are:-

• Natural foods that are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals
• Foods with good fat content like salmon
• Unprocessed meats with lean protein
• Red and orange foods with high vitamin C content

The common diet conceptions and guidelines for a better lifestyle hold up for PCOS too. Hence, the foods that you should avoid including in your diet are:-

• Processed foods like fried foods, fast foods, and sugary foods
• Meats like sausages and hot dogs that have been highly processed
• High consumption of red meat in pork and steaks

Your PCOS treatment and routine will depend on your case, complications, medical history, and other physical conditions. PCOS treatment for unmarried women (or those who do not want to get pregnant) includes:-

• Patches, shots, IUD (intrauterine device), or hormonal birth control pills to regulate symptoms like abnormal hair growth and skin conditions
• Medications used for diabetes to help improve your body’s insulin levels, hence taking your menstrual cycle back to normal
• Dietary and lifestyle changes can help regulate the hormone levels and promote a healthier life

PCOS cure and measures for women who want to get pregnant include:-

• Fertility pills to induce ovulation can help return your hormone levels back to normal.
• PCOS surgery (ovarian drilling) removes the ovarian tissue to regulate the production of androgens.
• IVF or In-Vitro Fertilization is a good option for women wanting to get pregnant that might be effective when the fertility pills fail/do not show any effect.

Curing PCOS is not an overnight process and it can be years before your diagnosis works. For example, if your doctor has put you on birth control to treat PCOS, he might ask you to observe your body changes and symptoms for at least 6 months to understand its effectiveness.

The PCOS test cost in India varies between INR 5,000 and INR 50,000. Some important points to consider are:-

• INR 50,000 might include minor PCOS surgery like LOD
• INR 25,000 is the average test cost which includes diagnostic tests and medications

The PCOS surgery/LOD cost might vary as it depends on the cost of diagnostic tests, hospital admission fees, and doctor consultation charges.

PCOS is a common health problem in India and countries all over the world, which is why an effective and permanent PCOS cure is important. Unfortunately, the healthcare industry has not found any permanent cure for the same. The treatment might help minimize the symptoms and control the lifestyle condition.

Any woman diagnosed with PCOS can opt for the treatment. However, the exact diagnosis and health plan will depend on your condition, physical health, medical history (if any), family history, and whether you are trying for pregnancy or not. Consult your doctor to get a detailed guideline and plan that you can follow.

Women who are trying to get pregnant or plan to get pregnant in the future cannot opt for LOD/PCOS surgery. Moreover, a particular contraceptive or hormone-stabilizing pill might not be suitable in certain cases. Thus, seeking expert healthcare and medical advice is the only way to understand whether you are eligible for the treatment or not.

You need proper care to fully recover from the PCOS surgery. After the procedure, you might experience -

• Anesthetic effects like grogginess and nausea
• Indigestion and improper bowel movement causing discomfort
• A sore incision site and abdomen

Some common guidelines for post-treatment care are -

• Consumption of a nutritious, well-balanced diet
• Proper hydration and fluid ingestion to avoid fatigue
• Wearing loose clothing to protect the incision site from infection
• Looking for side effects or complications and reporting to the doctor (if any)

Some side effects of the medications include - diarrhea, constipation, appetite loss, stomach pain, vomiting, and nausea. Rarely, PCOS surgery may cause negative impacts like fertility loss, nausea, indigestion, and abdominal pain.

Curing the hormonal imbalance can help your chances of permanently eliminating PCOS. Additionally, the changes caused during menopause can also cure PCOS. The negative side effects can greatly impact one’s regular lifestyle, making it necessary to consult your healthcare provider for a detailed diagnosis. PCOS can also put you at a risk for other medical problems like heart diseases, diabetes, cancer, sleep issues, depression, and other mental health problems.