PCOS
PCOS: What is it and what can be done?
Bloom Fertility acknowledges PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) month with an introductory blog about this often-confusing disorder. You might be wondering why there is an entire month dedicated to this. Well, did you know that PCOS affects one in ten women? That’s a lot of us who are affected by PCOS… and many of us might not even know it!
Let’s start by understanding “normal” menstrual cycles (although we all know there is no such thing as “normal” when it comes to our bodies). These cycles are 25 – 35 days in length with little to no variation (no more than 5 days) from one cycle to the next.
If you’re like me, you’re looking at your work calendar trying to figure out which meeting you were in when you realized it was that lovely time of month. And now you are trying to count the days from then until now to understand if you are “normal”.
Some women who are trying to conceive start tracking their cycles on apps such as Ovia or Glow, but even if you are not ready to start trying, it is helpful to begin to understand your cycle patterns sooner rather than later.
And understanding that you have an irregular cycle can be a key flag in determining if you have PCOS.
You might now be asking, how does having an irregular cycle indicate that I may have PCOS? Or more importantly, is tracking necessary? Isn’t there a quick test that I can take to have a sure diagnosis?
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. This is also the reason why many women with PCOS go undiagnosed. Instead, doctors look for two of the following three characteristics to diagnose a woman with PCOS:
Lack of ovulation, often characterized by irregular menstrual cycles (download your cycle tracking app now!)
High androgen (male hormone) levels, resulting in acne and/or excess hair growth around your face, chest and/or back
Polycystic ovarian syndrome morphology on ultrasound, or extra immature follicles in your ovaries
If your doctor is able to check two of the three boxes above, you’ll get a PCOS diagnosis.
Curious if you check any of the boxes above? Whether you are trying to start a family, expanding your existing one or simply curious to learn more about your body, we invite you to spend an hour with Dr. Carpenter.
During the month of September, to honor PCOS awareness, use the code “PCOS” to schedule your FREE consult today!
