PCOS. What is it?

PCOS is known as polycystic ovary syndrome and almost 60-70% of women who have it have not yet been diagnosed. PCOS is a syndrome in which women are producing more than the normal amount of male hormones, creating a hormonal imbalance that causes several symptoms that affect the ovaries and the stages of ovulation. Such disruption in a woman's body will cause her to have irregular periods and difficulty conceiving.

Women with PCOS often experience either hair loss or growth, mood swings, weight gain, fatigue, or cysts on the ovaries; symptoms typically vary per person. When cysts occur on the ovaries, they are filled with fluid and begin to grow. Each fluid filled sac has follicles that have an egg, this egg eventually matures enough to disrupt the process of ovulation. When ovulation is disrupted, a woman's estrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH levels are also disrupted, causing more male hormones to be produced. Once the symptoms are in full effects, women will experience fewer periods naturally. (This does not account if you are on birth control of course. In this case I find it crazy that many women celebrate not being able to see their monthly flow; I mean it’s the most natural form of our beings, celebrate it. Unless of course you have some kind of medical condition in which then I understand).

PCOS can be genetic, caused by your body's resistance to insulin, or if you experience higher occurrences of inflammation.

If you suspect you may have PCOS, go to a doctor near you and request a hormone panel be done on you to check the levels of all of your hormones. Also, make sure any medications that you are taking do not contain anything that can alter your hormone levels. Pay close attention to any possible changes within your body, weekly, monthly, yearly. Don't ignore your temple, its how you become your best you.

Journey with your healthiest form of you.