PCOS - Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of PCOS include:

• infertility
• cysts on the ovaries (immature eggs)
• absent, infrequent, and/or irregular menstrual cycle
• weight gain or obesity, usually with extra weight around the waist
• pelvic pain
• hirsutism: increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
• acne, oily skin, or dandruff
• hair loss
• skin tags - underarms; groin and nape of the neck
• dark brown or black skin patches on the neck, arms, breasts or thighs
• excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
• anxiety or depression
• sleep apnea - when a person stops breathing for short periods of time while asleep

Complications

Women suffering from PCOS have higher chances of infertility, miscarriage, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (preeclampsia) and premature delivery. Babies born to women with PCOS have an increased risk of being admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit or dying before, during, or shortly after birth. Women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing multiple serious disorders, including life-threatening diseases.

Some of the medical conditions that PCOS may lead to are:

• type 2 diabetes - a lifelong condition that causes the blood sugar level to become extremely high
• depression and mood swings - because the symptoms of PCOS can affect your confidence and self-esteem
• high blood pressure and high cholesterol - which can lead to heart diseases and stroke
• sleep apnoea - overweight women may also develop sleep apnoea, a condition that causes interrupted breathing during sleep
• women with absent or very irregular periods (fewer than three or four periods a year) due to PCOS for many years have a higher-than-average risk of developing cancer of the womb lining (endometrial cancer).