PCOS is a common, heterogeneous and heritable disorder affecting women throughout their lifetime. It is a common misconception that PCOS is all about cysts but it is in fact a characteristic amalgamation of cosmetic, reproductive and metabolic symptoms. Genetic and environmental factors play important role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.
Cosmetic symptoms include facial hair, thinning of the scalp, acne and visceral obesity.
Reproductive symptoms include irregular or scanty periods which are usually the first red flag in adolescents. Infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss affects the women in the reproductive age.
Metabolic symptoms- Common finding includes insulin resistance and hyper-insulinemia, which increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Chronic and undiagnosed PCOS in older women could even lead to stroke, cardiovascular accidents and cancer of the uterus due to unopposed raised estrogen.
Hence it is important to manage the symptom along with proper diet and exercise. The first step in managing PCOS is the awareness and accurate diagnosis. The second step includes Life style Management.