PCOS Symptoms: Common & Uncommon
List of Common and Uncommon Signs & Symptoms of PCOS
NOTE: I AM NOT AN OBGYN/MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. This is my experience and what I have learned through years of dealing with PCOS and all the associated health and mental conditions related to it. That said:
There are many and varied signs and symptoms of PCOS. They can begin in early childhood but most often women go diagnosed until they begin having irregular menstrual cycles or are trying to conceive.
Early diagnosis and proper treatment is important because PCOS affects more than reproduction, it increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer and other conditions including depression and anxiety.
Very Early Signs of PCOS
-Early Puberty/Precocious Puberty
-Weight Gain in Childhood: Upper body (signals high testosterone) & belly weight (signals Insulin Resistance) possibly with darker patches of skin at skin folds (neck, knuckles, elbows, underarms, thighs, knees)
-Symptoms that mimic thyroid disorders or Cushing's Syndrome
-Symptoms of Diabetes In Childhood w/ or w/out Weight Issues (frequent urination, increased thirst, extreme weakness/tiredness, stomach pain, nausea/vomiting, irritability/quick mood changes & more)
NOTE: All of these these symptoms must be evaluated by a physician asap. Precocious Puberty leads to health issues, short stature and can signal other conditions, some serious, especially in boys. Weight issues in childhood cause lifelong health and emotional problems. Learning to manage this can make a huge difference. If your child is ever lethargic/hard to wake/overly sluggish, seek immediate attention. Children of women/men with PCOS or family members with PCOS are at a greater risk of developing juvenile diabetes. Blood glucose levels that fall too low or too high are very serious emergency situations and must be evaluated by a medical professional, especially if there is no diagnosis of JD.
Adult/Post-Puberty Signs & Symptoms of PCOS In Women
NOTE: you do not have to show ALL of these symptoms to have PCOS. The symptoms vary from person to person depending on hormone levels and other factors.
Reproductive Organs
-Irregular or No Menstrual Cycles
-Very Light, Very Heavy (possibly very clotty) or No Bleeding
-Enlarged Clitoris/Possibly Larger Labia/May Be Darker In Color (none of this is a health concern, vaginas are VERY diverse in color/shape/size)
-Increased or Decreased Sex Drive
-May Have "Middle Pain" (you may be able feel ovulation or swelling of ovaries 14 days before you start a period)
-Severe PMS Symptoms (every early pregnancy symptom can be a PMS symptom)
-Steady Lotion-Thin or Slightly Moist Cervical Fluid (thins/becomes clear, slick, and very stretchy prior to ovulation)
-No Cervical Change To Indicate Ovulation (rises high, closer to uterus for ovulation/descends for menstruation)
-Smaller Breasts (for some of those who went through early puberty)
-Increased Risk of Cancer (I had gone several months without a period and had a uterine biopsy and I had not built up a lining. It was like I were in menopause. The risk is higher when your endometrial lining thickens without sloughing)
-Fertility Problems
Face & Body
-Acne/Oily Skin
-Excess Body Hair Growth- male-like facial hair, chest/breast/nipple hair, hair on back, thumbs and/or toes, belly hair (happy trail) & upper thigh hair
-Male Pattern Baldness, Thin Hair, Alopecia and or Dandruff/Scalp Psoriasis
-Skin Tags
-Darker Patches Around Neck, Underarms, Knuckles, Elbows, Knees, Thighs (anywhere skin bends/folds)
-Eczema/Patches of Psoriasis on Skin
-Red, Round Face
-Obesity, Excess Weight In Upper Body (arms/chest) & Waist
-Low Weight
-Sleep Apnea
-Abdominal Pain
-Reddish Stretch Marks
-Forward Head (lump/hump back of neck)
-Higher Muscle Mass
-Larger Fat Cells
-Hot Flashes
Mental/Emotional
-Mood Swings
-Anxiety
-Depression
-Insomnia
-Difficulty Falling/Staying Asleep
-Tiredness/Lack of Energy
Endocrine/Hormones/Blood Work & Other Signs
-Insulin Resistance
-Cysts on Ovaries
-High Red Blood Cell Count (possibly high white blood cells as well)
-High Testosterone
-Very High LH Hormone
-FSH Hormone Issues (usually low)
-High Prolactin (hard to pin down, it changes throughout the day, higher in the morning. If your prolactin is up you may have clear/opaque nipple discharge, even if you are not or have never been pregnant)
-Possibly High Blood Pressure
-Monitor For Type 2 Diabetes
-Possible High "Bad" Cholesterol & Low "Good" Cholesterol
-High Triglycerides
NOTE: There could be more uncommon or neglected symptoms. You don't have to have every sign, the most common are cysts on ovaries, high LH, high testosterone,insulin resistance and irregular periods.
Adult/Post-Puberty Signs & Symptoms of PCOS In Men
NOTE: you do not have to show ALL of these symptoms to have PCOS. The symptoms vary from person to person depending on hormone levels and other factors. How PCOS affects men is still being studied so more information will be emerging.
-Early Puberty
-Shorter Stature
-Muscular Build
-Increased Face & Body Hair
-Acne
-Possible Aggression/Risk Taking Behaviors
-Possible Mental Health Concerns (depression/anxiety)
-Insulin Resistance
-Possible Belly Weight
-Early Balding/Receding Hairline/Thinning Hair
-Possible Breast Growth (in extreme cases)
-Fertility Issues
NOTE: PCOS is harder to spot in men because testosterone in more natural to the male body. If there is a family member with PCOS men are at risk (and children too, of any gender). Men are more likely to have adverse affects if their Insulin Resistance goes untreated, leading to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions or when the hormone balance is extremely off.
Interesting Websites
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jc.2006-2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushing%27s_syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitoromegaly
http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/news/2012/10/dunaif_pcos.html
http://www.glowm.com/section_view/heading/Polycystic%20Ovary%20Syndrome/item/300
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.html#i
