The Signs and Symptoms

I wanted to touch base on some of the other symptoms of PCOS with you. As you remember in this post here, I spoke about my weight gain. That is just one of the signs of PCOS. There are A LOT of other signs to look for too.

I copied this from the PCOS Foundation website:

"There is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Only a doctor can test for PCOS. Some common signs and symptoms to look for are:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Irregular periods also called Oligomenorrhea
• Weight gain, Overweight (difficulty losing weight)
• Difficulty losing weight
• Excess hair growth on face and body- called Hirsutism
• Darkened patches of skin
• Skin tags
• Infertility
• Thinning hair
• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 Diabetes
• High cholesterol and high triglycerides
• High blood pressure
• Cysts on the ovaries (multiple)
• Pelvic pain
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sleep apnea (when breathing stops for a short period of time while asleep)
• Decreased sex drive
• Increase in stress levels

PCOS is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, and is one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders in women. PCOS has been recognized and diagnosed for seventy-five years. There are many signs and symptoms that a woman may experience. Since PCOS cannot be diagnosed with one test alone and symptoms vary from woman to woman, PCOS has been known as the “Silent Killer”. Early diagnosis of PCOS is important as it has been linked to an increased risk for developing several medical risks including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease."

Now I am not a doctor. If you have any of these signs or symptoms and think you might have PCOS please talk to you primary doctor about it. They will run the necessary tests to see if you have it.