1 in every 10-15 people suffers from PCOS, so it is pretty common, but it still remains to largely be undiagnosed/misdiagnosed. It is a chronic and an invisible illness.
Women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can experience symptoms that interfere with daily life. If you have PCOS, it can contribute to other health conditions that make it impossible to work full-time As a result, the social security administration (SSA) could find you qualify for disability benefits.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
The PCOS VA disability is addressed in the General Rating Formula for Gynecological Conditions and Disorders of the Breast and is rated as 30% disabling. It can often lead to other issues, such as infertility, depression, type 2 diabetes, miscarriages, etc.
Although endometriosis is not commonly thought of as a disability, endometriosis symptoms can severely impact a person's life. If you can no longer work or earn a living because of your endometriosis, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex condition that is most often diagnosed by the presence of two of the three following criteria: hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries.
Diagnostic Tests
To receive a diagnosis of PCOS, you must meet two of the following criteria: irregular ovulation, which is usually indicated by an irregular menstrual cycle or a lack of a cycle. signs of increased androgen levels or a blood test confirming you have increased levels. multiple small cysts on the ovaries.
There are four types of PCOS: Insulin-resistant PCOS, Inflammatory PCOS, Hidden-cause PCOS, and Pill-induced PCOS.
PCOS is a chronic condition with psychological and reproductive manifestations usually beginning in adolescence then transitioning to include infertility and increasing metabolic complications over time.
The name polycystic ovary syndrome describes the numerous small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) that form in the ovaries. However, some women with this disorder do not have cysts, while some women without the disorder do develop cysts. Ovulation occurs when a mature egg is released from an ovary.
As previously stated, the shape of a PCOS belly differs from other types of weight gain. It often appears large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genetics and other factors. The PCOS belly involves the accumulation of visceral fat in the lower abdomen and typically feels firm to the touch.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder, affecting around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age1.
Often misdiagnosed and poorly understood, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a lifelong disorder that can be managed with appropriate medical care.
Fatigue is one of the most common complaints of women with PCOS. Normal tiredness can be relieved by sleep and rest. But excessive tiredness, also known as fatigue, can be overwhelming and seriously affect a person's quality of life.
If you have ovarian cysts but do not require treatment for them, the VA assigns a disability rating of 0 percent. Your disability rating is 10 percent if you required treatment for cysts at one time but do not need continuous treatment for this common gynecological medical condition.
PCOS has strong ties to conditions that put people at higher risk for severe COVID-19, like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Learn more about comorbidities. One U.K. study found that women with PCOS have a 51% increased risk for COVID-19 infection, compared to others their age who did not have PCOS.
What causes the symptoms of PCOS? Most of the symptoms of PCOS are caused by higher-than-normal levels of certain hormones, called androgens. The ovaries produce hormones, which are chemicals that control functions in the body.
Myth #2: If You Lose Weight, You Can Get Rid of PCOS
Unfortunately, there is no cure for PCOS, but overweight and obese women can help balance their hormone levels by losing weight.
PCOS is also linked to increased risk for several known autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, Type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, and psoriasis.
PCOS often runs in families. Up to 70 percent of daughters of women with PCOS also develop it, but genetic variation doesn't fully explain the high incidence within families—some genome-wide association studies of PCOS susceptibility reckon genetics explains less than 10 percent of the condition's heritability.
Destruction of immune homeostasis is tightly related to the pathological process of PCOS. Patients undergoing PCOS present a low progesterone level because of oligo/anovulation. As a result, the immune system could be overstimulated, generating the production of autoantibodies in the involved patients.
Women with PCOS can develop serious health problems, especially if they are overweight: Diabetes—more than half of women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes by age 40.
Women with PCOS have higher levels of male hormones and many tend to be overweight or obese. Lots of women with PCOS have excess body hair, acne, irregular periods, and weight gain specifically in the abdomen. Instead of the traditional female pear shape, those with PCOS tend to have an apple shape.
Many women with PCOS find that their menstrual cycles become more regular as they get closer to menopause. However, their PCOS hormonal imbalance does not change with age, so they may continue to have symptoms of PCOS.