What Happens If Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is Left Untreated?

If you are going through an irregular menstrual cycle, acne, sudden weight gain, and excess body hair in unusual body parts such as breasts, jawlines, or upper bellies, then most probably you are in the grip of PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome).

What Happens If Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is Left Untreated?

The most common problem faced by 1 out of every 10 women of childbearing age. And that is a huge number which indicates there are more PCOS-affected women around us rather than the whole number of breast cancer, sclerosis, arthritis, and lupus combined together.

I guess this explains the severity of PCOS but still half of those who suffer from PCOS do not take it as seriously and are not taking any kind of treatment. Let me explain to you what happens if PCOS is left untreated. 

What is PCOS?

Before going to the consequences, we should know what PCOS means and how it affects women. Since you found the word ‘ovary’ in the expanded form, you may have an idea that it is related to women’s reproductive system and that is right! PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a hormonal disorder that is caused by a hormonal imbalance of insulin, androgen, and progesterone.

Though it will not cause any deadly harm, it can cause serious issues including infertility and irregular periods that can destroy every pre-planned schedule.

It is said that overproduction of androgen by the ovaries and increased insulin levels in the blood are responsible for PCOS. Medical experts and gynecologists are unable to explain the real causes behind PCOS but it is also assumed to be a result of changes in the environment and a combination of certain genes.

Researchers are still behind the causes which lead to PCOS. 

Symptoms

The underlying symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome often start appearing in adolescents during the beginning of the menstrual cycle but in some women, the symptoms start appearing in their early 20s.

The hormonal imbalances affect a large part of the reproductive system, which means the ovary and prevents the ovary from being functioning properly. The symptoms include;

• Missed periods or irregular menstrual cycle.
• Aches and pains.
• Sudden weight gain.
• Hair growth in face and breast.
• Difficulty in conceiving or infertility.

What happens if PCOS is left untreated?

The effect of PCOS may vary from person to person and it also depends on the health of the person. In some women, PCOS will simply show up and fade away after taking proper medication and exercises for a particular period of time.

But in some women, it can lead to endometrial cancer, if not treated properly. Living with PCOS isn’t that easy and it is frustrating too. Above all, you may not realize where will this PCOS take you, if not treated well. Here are some things, we all should take care of;

1. PCOS leads to serious problems. 

Various symptoms that you experience during PCOS can lead to severe health problems including cancer and heart diseases which cannot be cured later in the final stages. Other serious issues like sleeping disorders and difficulty in getting pregnant.

2. Diagnosis becomes hard.

If you ever experience the symptoms of PCOS, it is always better to consult an OBGYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist) who will be able to understand the symptoms and diagnose PCOS as early as possible.

If you consult a normal physician, he/she may not be able to recognize PCOS as the symptoms can be a result of irregular periods due to hormone variations or climatic changes.

3. Medications alone can’t work.

You think that you get medications at any point in time so there is no need to rush to the doctor. But you are wrong here.

Just because medicines are available, that alone can’t save you from PCOS. You need to follow a healthy lifestyle and dietary practices. If PCOS is not diagnosed earlier, you may not get cured completely with short-term exercises and long-term medications.

4. Delayed treatment.

Most PCOS cases can be treated and cured if diagnosed in early or starting stages. But it will be difficult to treat if it gets rooted in your body. Simply saying, you can pluck out a plant easily but you can’t pluck a tree like that. It needs more effort and more requirements. I hope you got me!

5. Infertility.

The most important and common result of PCOS is infertility. The improper function of the ovary can act as a hindrance to ovulation and thus controls pregnancy. PCOS can destroy the dream of a woman to consume.

However, proper and long-term treatments may help you to get pregnant but that cannot be a cure for a lifetime.

Treatment

When you are having PCOS, what happens in your body is that the ovary stops ovulating regularly which means the ovary will not release eggs.

Due to this insufficient progesterone will be produced, causing the line of the uterus to grow uncontrollably. This is what needs treatment, which includes;

• Use of oral contraceptive pills like birth control pills which contain estrogen and progesterone.
• Use of  Anti-Androgens to block the androgen effects.
• Infertility treatments to women who have difficulty in conceiving.
• Regular physical activities and exercises for weight loss and effective functioning of the body.
• A dietary plan to avoid food that triggers the production of androgen and insulin.

Conclusion

Though there are many serious health concerns about PCOS, one can have a healthy recovery if it is treated properly from the beginning itself. In this article, we have discussed all you have to know about POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS).

You know how severe it can be and how to prevent it from being a destroyer of your peace. Just be conscious of the symptoms and consequences.

Immediately seek medical attention if you experience any kind of problems. Have a PCOS-free life!