Common PCOS Symptoms

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a leading cause of ovarian dysfunction and female infertility. Women who have PCOS typically develop symptoms in their late teens or early 20s. There are a wide range of PCOS symptoms. Some women may experience all of them, while others only develop a few. The severity of PCOS symptoms may also vary.

The experienced doctors at CARE Fertility believe it is important that women recognize the symptoms of PCOS so that they can seek diagnosis and treatment. PCOS treatment eases symptoms and makes it easier for our Fort Worth, TX, and Bedford, TX, patients to conceive.

Irregular Menstrual Cycles

The most common symptom of PCOS is irregular menstrual cycles. PCOS disrupts the development of the follicles, making it unlikely that the patient will produce and release eggs regularly.

Some women with PCOS may not experience a period at all. A total lack of periods is known as amenorrhea. Others may experience oligomenorrhea, which means they have eight or fewer periods a year. Since women with oligomenorrhea do not have periods regularly, it is difficult for them to predict when they are ovulating or when their next menses will come.

Infertility

Due in large part to irregular menstrual cycles, our patients who suffer from PCOS are likely to have a difficult time conceiving. Since many women do not realize that irregular periods are often caused by PCOS, they may not discover they have the condition until they undergo a fertility screening.

Excessive Hair Growth

Many women with PCOS experience excessive hair growth, a condition known as hirsutism. Unfortunately, this condition does not usually affect the hair on the head. Instead, women with hirsutism may notice that they have extra hair, or thicker hair, on their face, chest, back, or buttocks.

Weight Gain

It is not known exactly why, but women with PCOS are more likely to struggle with weight gain. Obesity, which is medically defined as having a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or above, is also more common among women with PCOS than those with healthy and functioning ovaries.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is another potential symptom of PCOS. When people suffer from insulin resistance, the cells in the body ignore the signals that insulin sends out. Insulin tells the body to release glucose from the blood stream and put it into cells. Insulin resistance can lead to hyperinsulinemia, which means that blood sugar levels are higher than they should be. Hyperinsulinemia alone does not make a person diabetic, but it can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Acne

Acne is a fairly common problem for those of our Fort Worth patients who suffer from PCOS. The facial skin is likely to be oily, which can make it more difficult to prevent acne and blemishes.

Thinning Hair

While PCOS can cause excessive hair growth on the face and other body parts, it often has the opposite effect on the scalp. Women with PCOS may notice that the hair on their head begins to thin or fall out.

Contact Us

PCOS can compromise a woman’s fertility so that it is more difficult for her to conceive naturally. Fortunately, with the PCOS treatment offered at CARE Fertility, many patients have achieved their dream of parenthood. To learn more about our fertility services, contact us at your earliest convenience or call our team at (817) 924-1572. We serve patients in Fort Worth, Bedford, and surrounding areas.