Globally, PCOS has affected around 6% to 10% of women, marking it the most common health problem among women. Still, many people do not know about this health condition, so they do not take PCOS symptoms into their account. To understand what polycystic ovary syndrome is, you need to find the possible causes of PCOS and PCOS vitamins for treatment. In a condition of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a woman's body produces a higher amount of androgen (male hormone) than normal levels. These imbalanced hormones disturb their menstrual cycle and ovulation cycle. It results in ovarian cysts, the fluid-filled sacs that interfere with the development of eggs. Thus, this condition may also lead to ovulatory infertility in women if it remains untreated.

Read on to find the possible causes of PCOS that may increase the count of PCOS cases.

Common Causes of PCOS:

Researchers and doctors still do not find the exact cause of PCOS in most cases, but they find its association with family history and genetics. However, there may be many other possible triggering factors that we enlist below:

1.      Family history:

Many studies show that if mother, aunt, or sister had PCOS, then her immediate female relative has more chance to develop this condition. There is no solid evidence because the genetic association is complex to understand. However, the case studies propel the researcher to believe in this hypothesis. In addition to this condition, families with PCOS also have Type 2 diabetes in common.

2.      Imbalanced Hormone levels:

Irrespective of triggering factors, the imbalance hormone level is the prime reason behind polycystic ovary syndrome. The imbalance of hormones such as androgen and insulin in the body stimulates the signs of PCOS. The male hormones such as androgen release in a higher amount and create problems in the ovaries by affecting the healthy menstrual cycle. However, a higher amount of insulin production with insulin resistance can also impair the ovaries.

3.      Insulin resistance

In the majority of PCOS cases, insulin resistance is found to be the triggering factor. In this condition, a body stops responding to insulin and limits the entry of glucose into the body cells. Thus, body glucose levels cannot get stable from the body-produced insulin. As a result, the body starts producing more insulin, which causes an increase in androgens production in the ovaries. The lifestyle factors can trigger insulin resistance, such as no physical activities, poor diet, overweight, etc. Genes and family history can also contribute to insulin resistance PCOS.

4.      High Androgens Level

Androgens, the male hormones, are available in women too, but in a small amount. According to studies, women with PCOS have a higher level of androgen than healthy women. Thus, they might be the driven factor that prevents the ovaries from developing and releasing eggs during ovulation and the menstrual cycle. They also cause coarse facial hair growth and acne, two notable signs of PCOS.

5.      Weight & lifestyle

Both Slender and obese women can get PCOS during their child-bearing age. However, women with PCOS have a greater chance of gaining excess weight due to an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, a woman who is already overweight may get worst symptoms than a slim woman with PCOS. According to studies, obese people have higher insulin resistance, as excess weight increases the surge of PCOS responsible hormones. Within this cause, you can also find the treatment for PCOS, i.e., a healthy lifestyle. A healthy PCOS diet, active lifestyle, and nutritious food can improve the symptoms with ease.

All of these causes are interrelated, as one aspect can trigger the other and worsen the symptoms.

Symptoms and signs of PCOS:

Many people do not know that what are the first signs of PCOS? So, we enlist below the common signs and symptoms that may find them during your child-bearing age. The severity of symptoms may vary from woman to woman, so consult your gynecologist if you find any of them.

• Irregular periods: In most cases, women with PCOS may have fewer periods, miss periods, no periods, and even more frequent periods. However, some women do not get this symptom at all. Thus, always consider the frequency of your periods to find the health of your menstrual cycle.
• Facial Hair: The first thing that you may notice is the visible hair on the face. Due to the surge of male hormones, body hair and facial hair becomes dense and coarse than before. You may find dark and thick hair on the chin, neck, face, chest, and other body parts where men usually have hair. This condition is known as Hirsutism, and it affects almost 70% of women with this condition.
• Hair problems: Some women experience excessive hair loss that may lead to male pattern baldness. However, this condition is quite rare in the majority of cases.
• Excess weight gain: PCOS does not only make women gain more weight but also makes losing weight difficult
• Skin Darkening: Most people find darkness along neck creases, underneath the breast, and in the groin. This condition is known as acanthosis nigricans.
• Acne: High level of androgens also increases the size of sebum glands on the skin. Thus, the skin produces more oil that leads to more breakout and acne. It is a common symptom, but don't mix this issue with adolescent acne.
• Skin tags: The small excess flaps of skin may also appear in the armpits or neck area with the other symptoms of PCOS

Treatment for PCOS:

After knowing the causes and symptoms, you must want to know how to cure PCOS permanently. Unfortunately, there is no ultimate treatment to defy it to the fullest, but you can manage the symptoms with corresponding medications.

• PCOS diet: Your nutritious food and a healthy diet can bring visible improvement in the symptoms. Therefore, gynecologists always recommend following the most effective PCOS diet plan by the best dieticians.
• Birth control medicine: Birth control medicines can help regulate the menstrual cycle by restoring hormone balance.
• Fertility drug: Pregnancy and PCOS are the most searched term because PCOS brings difficulty to get pregnant. However, effective fertility drugs such as Clomiphene can help women in conceiving a baby.

Hope! You find understandable answers to PCOS-related questions. Keep the check on your reproductive system to manage and treat polycystic ovary syndrome before time.