Women Risk for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Risk factors for PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
The exact causes of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) remain unknown. However, certain risk factors are associated with the disease, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), including:
· Having a genetic history of the disorder
· Being overweight.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder which results when a woman’s ovaries produce more male hormones than normal, resulting in excessive hair growth, acne, pain in the pelvic area, and in some cases infertility. The NIH also notes that once a diagnosis is made, there is a strong correlation between women with PCOS and other disorders, including:
· Overweight and obesity
· Type II diabetes
· Metabolic syndrome
· High blood pressure
· Heart disease
Given that many of these disorders are already associated with obesity, the extent to which women prone to PCOS may be equally prone to these disorders is also not yet understood. It is also not clear as to whether obesity causes or is caused by PCOS itself. While PCOS does mean an increased risk for infertility, not all women with PCOS are infertile. They do have a higher risk of gestational diabetes, although this appears to be linked to increased weight rather than the condition itself (Mustaniemi, et al. 2018). There is no cure for PCOS, and women with the condition should be monitored throughout their reproductive lives, although PCOS does not mean a woman cannot live a productive and fulfilling existence.
References
Mustaniemi, S., Vääräsmäki, M., Eriksson, J. G., Gissler, M., Laivuori, H., Ijäs, H., … Morin-
Papunen, L. (2018). Polycystic ovary syndrome and risk factors for gestational diabetes. Endocrine Connections, 7(7), 859–869. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6026881/
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). (2019). NIH. Retrieved from:
https://medlineplus.gov/polycysticovarysyndrome.html