Menstruation is considered the rite of passage to womanhood among young girls. Once you had your first period, you are now capable of bearing and birthing a child. Girls as young as 8 or 9 experience their first periods, while others have theirs in their teenage years.
Women and girls are supposed to experience monthly periods until they reach menopause. However, there are also a lot of women who experience irregular periods. If you are one of those women who experience irregular monthly periods, you should visit an OBGYN in Provo to determine any underlying condition that causes that.
Facts about PCOS
It is said that 1 in 10 women of childbearing age has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS. What is PCOS, what causes it, and is it curable? For starters, PCOS is not all about having irregular monthly periods. It can also affect your ability to conceive, cause hormonal imbalances, and can take a toll on your metabolism.
Basically, PCOS is caused by a hormonal imbalance that also causes the delay of the release of your eggs in your ovaries. Egg release usually happens within a span of a month. If the egg is not fertilized by a sperm during sexual intercourse, it will result in menstruation. But in PCOS, there is almost always a delay in the egg release.
Women with PCOS often have a hard time getting pregnant. They are also at higher risk of having cysts in their ovaries. Aside from that, you are also at high risk of having this condition if it is in your genes or if you are obese. That is why it is important to have regular checkups with an OBGYN to determine the overall condition of your reproductive health.
Other symptoms of PCOS
Other known symptoms of PCOS, aside from having irregular periods, include the following.
- Excessive hair on areas that men usually have such as on the face, legs, or armpit (a condition called hirsutism)
- Presence of acne on the face, back, and chest
- Hair loss or thinning
- Significant weight gain
- Skin darkening along the nape, group, neck, and under the breasts
- Frequent headaches
How to manage your PCOS symptoms
Unfortunately, a lot of people all over the world are still unaware of PCOS and its health implications. In fact, a report by the National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association revealed that more than 50 percent of women do not know they have PCOS.
However, there are already medications that can help treat PCOS and their respective symptoms. Among these common medications prescribed for PCOS include birth control pills, IUDs, metformin, and anti-androgen medications. If you are trying to get pregnant, you need to lose weight, take fertility medications such as Clomid or IVF, or have surgery as a resort.
As for excessive hair growth, you may opt to use hair removal creams or schedule a laser hair removal done by a professional. Ensure to have physical activity and a healthy diet to maintain your weight. It is still possible to treat PCOS with the right treatment and early intervention.
