What is PCOS?
PCOS is a common hormonal disorder where your ovaries don’t function correctly, and as a result fail to ovulate and release eggs. When PCOS occurs, your hormonal environment becomes disorganized, which causes irregular and possibly prolonged menstrual bleeding, infertility, and it may produce many small or large cysts within the ovary (though not always).
What are the symptoms of PCOS?
Signs and symptoms of PCOS either take effect around the time of your first menstrual period during puberty or develop later in life in response to substantial weight gain, but it can also happen without weight gain.
While signs and symptoms of PCOS vary, the most common include:
Irregular Menstrual Cycle
Your periods happen less than monthly, or they occur more often than usual and erratically.
Hirsutism
You grow too much hair where men usually have hair, including your face, chin, or other areas of your body.
Acne
Blemishes appear on your face, chest, and upper back.
Weight Gain
Either your weight increases significantly or you have difficulty losing excess pounds.
Skin Darkening
The skin on your neck, groin, and under your breasts darkens.
Skin Tags
You grow small excess flaps of skin in your armpits or neck area.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
A PCOS diagnosis depends on irregular cycles and excess levels of male hormones so no one test diagnoses PCOS. Therefore, to determine if you're suffering from PCOS, Dr. Haciski reviews your medical history and performs a physical exam that includes several different tests.
- Physical exam including a Pelvic exam: To check for signs of extra male hormones and check for swollen or enlarged ovaries
- Pelvic ultrasound (sonogram): To examine your ovaries for cysts and check the lining of your uterus
- Blood tests: Check hormone levels, cholesterol levels, and for diabetes; hormone testing may require several separately timed blood tests
How is PCOS treated?
There’s no cure for PCOS, so Dr. Haciski helps you manage your symptoms by suggesting lifestyle changes and prescribing hormones and other medications to minimize symptoms. When you're ready to conceive a child, he helps with that, as well.
To get help managing the symptoms of PCOS, call or make an appointment online today with Dr. Haciski at Advanced Gynecology in Naples, Florida.
