What Do You Need to Know about PCOS?

PCOS, is a common problem in girls and young women. In fact, 1 in 10 adult women have PCOS and while the data for pediatrics is limited, some studies say 3-9% of young adolescents have PCOS.

PCOS is a hormone imbalance that can lead to irregular periods, excess hair on the face, chest, lower stomach, and lower back, and can also cause acne. Some women with PCOS can also have an increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes or have a harder time losing weight.

PCOS can begin in the teen years and last into adulthood.

The exact cause of PCOS is not clear. Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance. This means their body cannot use insulin well. As a result, insulin levels build up in the body and may cause higher androgen (male Hormone) levels.

Obesity can also increase insulin levels and make PCOS symptoms worse. PCOS may also run in families. In fact, it is  common for sisters or a mother and daughter to have PCOS.

PCOS is caused by an imbalance in the hormones (chemical messengers) in your brain and your ovaries. PCOS usually happens when a hormone called Luteinizing Hormone (from the pituitary gland) or levels of insulin (from the pancreas) are too high, which then causes the ovaries to make extra amounts of testosterone.

PCOS is strongly linked with obesity—and as obesity levels have risen, PCOS has become a more common diagnosis. However, there are also lean women who suffer from PCOS. And, almost all women with PCOS have some degree of insulin resistance, which is also known as pre-diabetes.

Treatments recommended for PCOS are multifactorial. The goal is to manage your symptoms of PCOS. We want to correct your hormone imbalance to lower your testosterone levels, regulate your periods, prevent unplanned pregnancy if you are sexually active and try to decrease painful and heavy periods if that is an issue for you. 

For decreasing your diabetes risk, we focus on lifestyle modification with a lower carbohydrate diet, adequate lean protein and increased veggies. We can also try medications such as metformin to lower insulin levels. For increased acne we talk about treatment for the acne and we can try medications for this, both topical and oral. We also talk about electrolysis and laser for hair removal.

As you can see, we really try to focus on your symptom management for PCOS. In addition, there are supplements that have mixed reviews. As a result, we are still exploring if those are helpful for younger patients.

While there is no cure for PCOS, we can help you manage your symptoms.  

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If you or someone you care about suffers from PCOS, this is my area of expertise and I am here to help.

You can learn more about my approach my contacting me directly at drmehra@themehraclinic.com or calling my office at 703-940-0635.