There may be different symptoms of polycystic ovaries which may be caused due to insulin resistance or can occur as various kinds of symptoms, varying from one woman to another.
Common symptoms of polycystic ovaries in women
The polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms include the following:
A common sign of PCOS can be Oligomenorrhea or Amenorrhea which refer to irregular or absent periods. These symptoms of polycystic ovaries may include less than 9 menstrual cycles a year, with heavier bleeding than normal. This may occur due to the absence of enough hormone production from the ovaries to maintain a regular menstrual cycle. Absent or irregular menses may indicate the lack of ovulation.
A common symptom is infertility. When PCOS is featured with the excessive production of insulin, the ovaries may be stimulated to produce considerable quantities of androgen, the male hormone.
This prevents the ovaries from producing an egg every month. The absence of regular menstrual cycles prevents chances of pregnancy, although some women can conceive with medical assistance.
Other symptoms lead to hirsutism or excessive growth of hair that may be tough for many women. Usually, PCOS sufferers have hair in the beard and mustache regions which tend to become darker. Male like hair on the legs and arms including regions like back, chest, abdomen and pubic area are also a possibility. This condition is often caused by increased levels of androgen, the male hormone.
Some symptoms of polycystic ovaries include thinning of hair which is caused by high levels of the male hormone. Pimples, oily skin and acne can also trouble women suffering from PCOS. The acne generally occurs around the face, jaws, back or chest.
Higher levels of insulin lead to the development of ovarian cysts partly due to hormonal imbalance as well as because of the over sensitiveness of the ovaries to insulin. The immature and multiple ovarian cysts are usually associated with conception problems and irregular menstrual cycles.
Polycystic ovaries include 12 or higher follicles existing in a single ovary as are evident in an ultrasound. Here, the follicles are clustered together to develop cysts. However, all women with PCOS do not have polycystic ovaries.
Fatigue is one of the common symptoms because insulin resistance often leads to reduced levels of energy. Additionally, women may suffer from a low functioning thyroid which is a common endocrine condition leading to exhaustion.
Skin problems and skin tags may be formed as a part of the symptoms of polycystic ovaries. These usually occur in the armpits, bra lines or neck and may be eliminated by seeing a dermatologist. The other commonly occurring symptoms involve mood swings, high cholesterol levels and sleep apnea.
