Irregular periods, acne, excessive hairiness… These signs can alert you to the possible presence of a polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It would affect about 15% of women of childbearing age and is mainly due to a hormonal imbalance, caused by excess production of male hormones. And that figure could actually be twice as high, due to a lack of diagnosis.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is not manifested by cysts, as its name suggests, but rather by small follicles in the ovaries. Nevertheless, some women may have many follicles on their ovaries, but still not have PCOS.
“There are as many forms of PCOS as there are patients”, indicated to Top Santé, the gynecologist Anne-Sophie Catteau-Jonard in a previous article. PCOS is actually a collection of symptoms rather than an actual disease, and many of them can be limited by purely symptomatic treatments to help patients deal with what is bothering them (stress, acne, excessive hair growth). The symptoms are even often attenuated with age. However, there is no treatment that will act directly on PCOS.
From when to worry? If your periods are still not regular two or three years after their appearance, it is important to consult a doctor, as well as if your symptoms (stress, hair growth, acne, etc.) become too bothersome.
Here are 9 things every affected woman, and indeed everyone else, should know about polycystic ovary syndrome.