PCOS can start anytime after puberty, often appearing in the late teens or early 20s, with symptoms like irregular periods, acne, or excess hair. However, signs can emerge as early as age 11 or 12, around the first period, and many people aren't diagnosed until their 20s or 30s when facing fertility issues.
If you experience symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), they'll usually become apparent in your late teens or early 20s.
Experts estimate that 5 to 10 percent of women ages 18 to 44 have PCOS. The syndrome is usually detected in women between ages 20 and 30, but the earliest signs can be evident in younger girls including those who have not yet started menstruation.
PCOS is a very common hormone problem for women of childbearing age. Women with PCOS may not ovulate, have high levels of androgens, and have many small cysts on the ovaries. PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain.
A diagnosis of PCOS is made when you have at least two of these:
Some signs that may point to PCOS include: An irregular menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycles are often long (longer than 40 days between periods). Excess hair growth, acne or other signs of excess androgen hormones.
The exact reason why these hormonal changes occur is not known. It's been suggested that the problem may start in the ovary itself, in other glands that produce these hormones, or in the part of the brain that controls their production. The changes may also be caused by the resistance to insulin.
The Biggest Symptom: Irregular Menstrual Cycles. Irregular menstrual cycles are frequently cited as the most significant and telling symptom of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This symptom is not only common but also a pivotal factor in the diagnosis of the condition.
If you leave PCOS untreated, the syndrome's symptoms will not only worsen, but you may put yourself at greater risk of developing serious conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and endometrial cancer. PCOS itself is not life-threatening, but it can lead to life-threatening complications.
Four Common Types of PCOS
Exhaustion That Doesn't Go Away
Many people with PCOS describe a constant fatigue that does not improve with rest. Even after a full night of sleep, energy levels remain low and concentration can feel difficult.
JC: Your symptoms can be vague or mimic symptoms of other conditions, so PCOS can go undiagnosed for a while. There's no single test for it, but a physical exam, ultrasound, and blood tests can help diagnose PCOS.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed. Treatment options can vary because someone with PCOS may experience a range of symptoms, or just 1. The main treatment options are discussed in more detail below.
Blood Tests
Your doctor may check your blood for levels of androgens, including testosterone, which tends to be higher in women with PCOS. He or she may also test your insulin levels, which are usually elevated in women with the condition.
Research has shown that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of PCOS, but its exact cause remains unknown. The symptoms of PCOS tend to run in families, so genetics have long been a focus of PCOS research.
A PCOS flare-up feels like a worsening of your usual symptoms, with more intense cystic acne (jawline, chin), increased facial/body hair (hirsutism), heavier shedding or thinning hair, significant fatigue, worsened mood swings, and more irregular or heavy periods, often triggered by stress, poor sleep, or diet, making symptoms harder to manage temporarily.
The group with PCOS had been diagnosed at a mean age of 27 years. The mean follow-up time was 13.1 years in both groups, during which 1,003 controls and 177 women with PCOS died. The mean age at death was 51.4 years for the PCOS group versus 52.6 years for the control women, a significant difference (P < . 001).
Stathos says together with diet, exercise and other heathy lifestyle habits, such as plenty of sleep and managing stress, can work to control PCOS symptoms, lower your risk of developing chronic disease and improve your life.
For PCOS, you should avoid foods that increase inflammation and insulin resistance, such as sugary drinks, refined carbs (white bread, pasta, pastries), processed meats (hot dogs, bacon, sausage), fried foods, excessive red meat, trans fats (margarine, shortening, fast food), and highly processed snacks, as well as limiting alcohol and added sugars to help manage symptoms like weight gain and insulin resistance.
Irregular periods, heavy periods, or a lack of a period altogether can all be signs of PCOS. Collectively, these symptoms are called abnormal bleeding. Let us know if your periods are unpredictable or difficult in any way.
A reduced GH, increased LEAP-2 levels, high LH basal, increased LH/FSH ratio, high androgens, and low estrogen are demonstrated in PCOS and linked to infertility.
The exact cause of PCOS isn't known but it's thought to be caused by a hormone and metabolic (the chemical reactions in the body's cells that change food into energy) imbalance in the body. PCOS can run in families so if someone in your family has the condition, it's more likely you may have it too.
Ovarian cysts: Many people with PCOS also have ovarian cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs in or on the ovary. Though many cysts are small and harmless, they can grow in size and cause issues like bloating, swelling and pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen.
Multiple genes contribute to your risk, but having the genes doesn't mean you'll develop the condition. Environment and lifestyle can play a major role in whether you develop PCOS. Pollutants, hormone levels in the womb, stress, diet, and lifestyle choices can all influence whether or how symptoms appear.