Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome commonly known as PCOS have never piqued my interest until late 2006 when my daughter was diagnosed with the disease. My daughter have always been obese growing up and I attributed it to her genetic make-up. At age nine, I have noticed physical changes that accompanied her obesity like skin tags, dark patches of skin on groin, armpits and neck, and excessive facial hair growth. As migrants who just settled in the United States, with little knowledge of healthcare resources, my first resort was over the counter remedy like topical creams to lighten dark spots which did nothing at all. It never entered my mind that my daughter's physical manifestations could be a sign of a more serious health condition until her school …show more content…
Although cause is unknown, condition is linked to excess insulin, which contributes to excess production of androgen by the ovaries; low – grade inflammation (often shown by PCOS women) that stimulates polycystic ovaries to produce androgens; and heredity which suggests that having a mother or a sister with PCOS increases an individual's chance of getting one (mayoclinic.org, 2015). Although primarily considered a gynecological disorder, the syndrome is now recognized to have major effects not only on reproductive but also on metabolic and cardiovascular health of affected women throughout their life because of hormonal imbalances (Kumar, Anantharayanan, and Rajendiran, 2014). Obesity, hypertension, hypothyroidism, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, which are risk factors for Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus, are most common in PCOS women (Kumar, Anantharayanan, and Rajendiran, …show more content…
Symptoms may include irregular periods, extra body hair growth on chest, belly, face, and around the nipples, acne on face, chest, or back, skin changes, such as dark or thick skin markings and creases around the armpits, groin, and neck, thinning hair on the head at the temple, and decrease in breast size (U.S. Library of Medicine, 2015). Clinical signs, which lead to diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome, includes presence of at least two of the following manifestations: irregular periods, excess androgen, and/or polycystic ovaries (mayoclinic.org, 2015). Irregular period includes menstrual intervals longer than 35 days; fewer than eight menstrual cycles a year; failure to menstruate to four months or longer; and prolonged periods that may be scant or heavy (mayoclinic.org, 2015). Presence of elevated male hormones commonly manifested by excess of facial body hair growth, adult acne or severe adolescent acne, and male – pattern baldness; and/or presence of enlarged polycystic ovaries containing numerous small fluid – filled sacs surrounding the eggs (mayoclinic.org, 2015). Experts at Mayo clinic recommend that anyone with concern about menstrual periods, infertility, and/or signs of presence of excess male hormones must consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment (mayoclinic.org,