94. The Four Types of PCOS
Episode description
Did you know that Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, affects as many as five million women in the United States and it is one of the most common causes of infertility.
PCOS symptoms—including weight gain, weight loss resistance, acne, missing or irregular periods, thinning hair on the top of the head and excess hair on the face and chest—can be annoying at best and debilitating at worst.
Despite the name, polycystic ovarian syndrome has nothing to do with cysts on the ovaries. The things your doctor saw on ultrasound are follicles or eggs, which are normal for the ovary. You can have many eggs and still have normal hormones, and that’s why ultrasound cannot diagnose (or rule out) the hormonal condition PCOS.
PCOS is best defined as androgen excess (high male hormones). Don’t let the term “male hormones” mislead you, however. Androgens are produced in both women and men and play subtle but important roles in the female body. It’s only when they become out of balance that they can cause problems.What this imbalance does is interfere with our regular menstrual cycles. Women with PCOS experience:
- Missing or irregular periods (not ovulating regularly)
- Unwanted face and chest hair
- Loss of hair on the head
- Acne (specifically on the jawline, chest, and back)
- Carrying extra weight around the waistline
- Inability to lose weight
- Insulin resistance and dysregulated blood sugar (though not in every case. Most women with PCOS have dysregulated insulin, but not all)
To treat PCOS, you need to know what’s driving it. In other words, you need to know the different types of PCOS. And that’s what we dive into today in this episode.
The Four Types of PCOS
1.Insulin-resistant PCOS
2. Post-pill PCOS (which is temporary)
3. Inflammatory PCOS
4. Adrenal PCOS, which is far less common
Tune in to learn more!
Three articles mentioned in the episode:
- Maybe it’s not PCOS (and PCOS cannot be diagnosed by ultrasound)
- Pain is not a symptom of PCOS
- Is it PCOS or hypothalamic amenorrhea or both?
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Today's show is sponsored by Mixhers
Produced by @sandmanpodcasting
Ema
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