This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Young Women – Signs You May Have It

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine problem in young women, and it often goes undiagnosed in the adolescent population.  The patients are frequently presented with menstrual irregularity and signs of androgen excess, which includes unwanted excess hair growth and acne.  These are the symptoms that usually lead the patients to visit their health care professional.  The weight of the young women can range from normal to elevated, and with obesity, the androgen affects can be more advanced.

To make the diagnosis of PCOS, certain criteria need to be met.  The most common guideline requires 2 of the following characteristics:

  • Signs of androgen excess
  • Irregular menses (probably secondary to problems with ovulation)
  • On a sonogram exam of the pelvis, the ovaries are found to have many small cysts (polycystic ovaries)

PCOS can have metabolic consequences with major effects on the glucose metabolism, affecting up to 25% of these young women.  There are different ways to screen for this abnormality, from obtaining fasting levels of glucose and insulin to a full glucose tolerance test.  Elevated weight levels, monitored by determining the BMI, increases the risk of developing these metabolic problems.

Find out what's happening in Deer Park-North Babylonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Find out what's happening in Deer Park-North Babylonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?