Worried About PCOS? 7 Symptoms To Watch Out For
If you are a woman experiencing irregular menstrual periods, infertility and other hormonal difficulties, you may have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Also known as polycystic ovary disease, the condition is characterized by small, non-cancerous cysts in one or both of a woman’s ovaries. PCOS usually has more than one symptom, including:
- Irregular or absent menstrual periods
- Development of some male sex characteristics, most commonly excess hair on the face and body, deepened voice, and male-pattern baldness
- Acne
- Weight gain or obesity
- Infertility (PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility)
- Diabetes or insulin resistance
- Decreased breast size
PCOS affects between five and 10 percent of females. Conventional treatment includes medication and fertility drugs (if pregnancy is desired). In addition to maintaining a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise, I recommend following an anti-inflammatory diet, erring on the side of lower carbohydrates; avoiding conventionally raised beef and dairy products, which may contain residues of estrogenic hormones used as growth promoters; and increasing intake of whole soy foods, which contain isoflavones, substances that may help regulate hormone imbalances.
Since women with PCOS are at higher risk for hypertension, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and endometrial cancer, see your physician if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.
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