Okay, okay, so we’re a little bit late to be adding our two cents about the importance of PCOS Awareness since PCOS Awareness month ended a few days ago (it was September). But it’s actually never too late to talk about this important issue which can affect fertility and which isn’t nearly as widely known or understood as it ought to be. PCOS is the acronym for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a disease affecting about ten percent of women many of whom don’t even know that they have it. PCOS is a leading cause of infertility which is unfortunate because it can be treated (although not cured) using medication and success of treatment is significantly improved when PCOS is caught early on.
Symptoms to look for to see if you have PCOS include irregular periods, insulin-related problems, thinning hair on the head with simultaneous growth of excess hair on the body and face, and excess weight particularly in the belly. If these are symptoms that you have, you should be checked out for PCOS to avoid extensive problems with fertility down the line. The good news is that the fertility issues can be treated with medication although the treatments don’t work for everyone. Learn more about the effects of PCOS from this story about one woman who is still hopeful about her fertility despite a lifelong struggle with PCOS.
