PCOS: What it does to a woman's body

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) was termed after the visible change that the disorder brings in the ovaries of women affected by it, i.e. ovaries look like cysts. PCOS actually brings about a host of metabolic and endocrine changes in the body, essentially resulting from how it changes the body's response to certain hormones.

Common Changes in Woman's Body

Though the biggest indicators of PCOS are the overproduction of male hormones (androgens) or acne, the disorder also causes the following changes in the body:

Hair loss

Women with PCOS find hair loss to be among the most difficult symptoms/effects of PCOS to deal with. The medical term for PCOS-related hair loss is androgenic alopecia or male-pattern baldness. It is a direct effect of the increase in levels of male hormones in the body due to PCOS. Testosterone levels increase in PCOS, which is converted to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with the aid of the enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase present in the oil glands of hair follicles. DHT binds to receptors in the scalp follicles, causing the follicles to shrink. Shrunken hair follicles are unable to support healthy hair, and this condition leads to hair fall.

Weight gain

The battle with weight gain can be a constant struggle for women with PCOS. According to WebMD.com, over six out of every ten women who have PCOS also deal with weight issues.

So how does PCOS lead to weight gain?

PCOS decreases the body's ability to use the hormone insulin, which is responsible for converting sugar and starch from foods into energy. This condition is known asinsulin resistance and leads to accumulation of glucose and insulin in the bloodstream. High insulin levels in the blood cause overproduction of the male hormone (androgens). High levels of androgens in the body are responsible for weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, where men tend to put on weight.

For this reason, women with PCOS generally have an apple-shaped body. Other changes brought about by increased male hormones are acne, excess facial hair and irregular periods.

Abdominal fat is dangerous and increases the risk to other health conditions, such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes
• Sleep apnea

These conditions together pose a risk of developing heart disease.

Breastfeeding

Some research has been conducted to understand the effects of PCOS on breast-feeding. A study by L Marasco et al. in 2000 was the first to reveal a possible connection between PCOS and low milk supply and suggested various ways that PCOS could interfere with breastfeeding. 

These include:

1. Poor breast development during puberty and pregnancy (due to irregular menstrual cycles that translate to less oestrogen for mammary tissue development).
2. High levels of androgens interfere with prolactin action (prolactin and oxytocin are important hormones required for lactation) or few prolactin receptors during pregnancy.
3. Inhibition of lactation by oestrogen dominance in the early days after the birth of a baby. (Women with PCOS have oestrogen imbalance).
4. Breast growth and milk synthesis are affected by insulin resistance.

Another study also postulates that PCOS could interfere with the hormones required by the breast to develop milk-producing tissue.

Sleep Apnea

Women with PCOS often face sleep-related problems, with the most serious of them being obstructive sleep apnoea. The muscles of the throat relax during sleep and air is unable to flow in and out of the lungs causing the affected person to temporarily stop breathing while asleep. It is believed that male hormones influence the sleep receptors in the brain that regulate breathing. It can be difficult to diagnose sleep apnoea as it occurs in a sleeping state and many women do not remember experiencing it.

Signs that may suggest a woman is affected by sleep apnoea are hypersomnia or feeling extremely sleepy during the day despite a good night's rest, loud snoring, waking up at night due to difficulty breathing, waking up with dry mouth, sore throat or headaches and insomnia.

Also Read: 10 Life-Changing PCOS Self-Care Tips Every Women Should Know

Stress

Women with PCOS also battle their susceptibility to stress, which is higher than other women without PCOS. This is due to a hormonally imbalanced condition of the body, and stress caused by PCOS can lead to further imbalance in the body. Stress sensitivity in women with PCOS can affect ovulation and cause difficulty in conceiving.

Here's how stress affects women with PCOS:

1. Depleted progesterone levels - Cortisol is released from adrenal glands during times of stress, and is synthesised in a pathway from progesterone. Thus, stress directs the production of cortisol and uses up progesterone in the process. Progesterone dip is responsible for disrupting normal menstrual cycle, and implantation and may cause miscarriage.
2. Increased cortisol production in PCOS women - With already elevated levels of cortisol in the body, stress aggravates the imbalance further.
3. Stress aggravates emotional disorders - Anxiety and depression run high in women with PCOS, a condition that becomes more serious with stress.
4. Insulin resistance - High cortisol levels during stressful times lead to insulin resistance.
5. Effect of cortisol on other hormones - Raised cortisol levels due to stress affect the working of other hormones like the sex hormones and thyroid hormone.