From baldness to sleep problems, the bizarre symptoms of a hormone problem that affect one in ten women
It is a major cause of infertility, affecting approximately one in ten women of childbearing age.
Telltale symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), such as heavy/irregular periods, acne, and weight gain, can easily be mistaken for other causes.
What’s more, experts say there are less common symptoms of the hormonal condition that aren’t typically talked about, including sleep problems, depression and skin problems…
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes a hormonal imbalance that can lead to mood swings, hair loss and skin conditions
Difficulty sleeping
It may seem strange that a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels can also disrupt her sleep.
But that’s exactly what studies have shown.
An academic article shows that women with PCOS are up to ten times more likely to have sleep apnea.
That 2011 study, authored by an endocrinologist at the University of Chicago, compared the risk in obese women, who tend to be more at risk for the condition — a leading cause of snoring.
Patients with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night.
It can cause disrupted sleep and make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, says Jodie Relf, a registered dietitian who specializes in helping women with PCOS.
Sleep problems and sleep apnea are both common in overweight women and especially if they also have PCOS
Skin tags
Skin tags – unlike warts and moles – are soft growths that are usually small and harmless.
They usually grow in places where the skin rubs together, such as on your neck and under your arms.
Yet hormonal imbalances caused by PCOS can also trigger its growth, experts say.
‘These are small patches of skin that can develop around the neck, under the arms or along the bra line,’ says Ms Relf, spokesperson for the supplement brand MyOva.
Dark spots on the skin
In addition to skin tags and acne, PCOS can also be acanthosis nigricans.
‘These are dark spots on the skin that are more common under the arms or around the neck,’ says Ms Relf.
It is associated with insulin resistance, just like skin tags. The NHS says many PCOS patients are ‘resistant to the action of insulin in their bodies’ – a hormone that helps clear sugar from the blood.
Experts say the hormone can stimulate skin cells and cause them to overgrow quickly, resulting in dark spots.
An excess of androgenic hormones can also lead to acne, thinning hair, hair loss and limp hair that breaks easily
Mood swings
Mood swings are also symptoms that affect women with PCOS.
Having PCOS can increase your chances of developing depression later in life, the NHS says. This is because the symptoms of PCOS can affect your self-confidence and self-esteem, it adds.
Fertility problems, weight gain and painful periods are three common symptoms.
According to recent international PCOS guidelines, as many as 80 percent of patients experience depression and 70 percent experience anxiety, Ms. Relf says.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects the functioning of a woman’s ovaries. It can cause irregular periods, but also sleep problems, skin problems and mood swings
Baldness
Hair loss is another reported symptom of PCOS.
PCOS occurs when the ovaries begin to release excess androgens; these are ‘male’ hormones such as testosterone that women produce in small amounts.
Excessive stimulation of the follicles by androgens can lead to: thinning hair.
This type of hair loss typically causes the hair on the sides of the scalp to fall out and the parting area can become much thinner, experts say.
Although, just as a hormonal imbalance causes hair loss, it also causes excessive hair growth, usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks, according to the NHS.
Low libido
Low libido is common in people with PCOS, but it’s not something many people talk about, says Ms. Relf.
She believes the side effect of PCOS is related to confidence.
She said: ‘It may be related to low self-esteem experienced as a result of the symptoms associated with PCOS.’