Symptoms

PCOS/ PCOD is curable. However, the longer it takes to diagnose the problem, the lengthier the treatment will be. Most women experience mild PCOS symptoms initially, but they go unnoticed. This ignorance allows the problem to become chronic.

PCOS has some noticeable symptoms:

• Irregular, late, or early periods
• Heavy or scanty menstrual bleeding
• Sudden weight gain
• Type 2 Diabetes/ Insulin resistance
• Acne/ hyperpigmentation
• Male pattern hair growth/balding
• Infertility
• Thyroid

No woman will have all the symptoms together. You must act even if you have one or two such symptoms. Determining the problem is important, and USG (Pelvis) is usually the best medium.

Ayurveda is the best way to treat PCOS from its roots. It is the only treatment method that promises a cure, not just temporary relief or management of the symptoms.

Case 1: Singdha’s Persistent Acne

While Snigdha was preparing for her boards, she had pimples all over her face. It didn’t look out of the ordinary. Many girls in the class had these demons. However, it became extraordinary when these pimples stayed even when Snigdha passed out of her college. The past three years had been very embarrassing for her. She lost all her confidence. The pimples were showing no signs of retreat. On the contrary, they were filled with pus and had become cystic.

Soon Snigdha also started experiencing period delays, and that’s when she was diagnosed with PCOS. With treatment, her periods normalized, and her pimples went away. However, nothing could bring back those 4-5 years Snigdha passed in pain and embarrassment.

Case 2: Richa’s Facial Hair

Richa first experienced significant facial hair growth in her mid-20s. She worked as a team lead. Hence, leading from the front was a part of her job profile. However, it also meant she was more prominently visible and the center of attention.

At first, when Richa noticed facial hair growth on her chin, she didn’t pay much attention to it. The growth was scanty and could be handled easily. However, soon darker hair started to come out on her face. She had to use a lot of makeup to cover the facial hair growth and still felt conscious that her team members noticed the change.

It affected Richa’s mental and emotional state greatly. She became reactive and aggressive as a countermeasure.

Richa knew about PCOS but never thought of it because she always had regular periods. She never thought her facial hair alone could be a symptom of PCOS.

9 Prominent PCOS Symptoms

1. Irregular, Delayed, or Early Periods

Irregular periods are the most striking signs of PCOS. However, period irregularities can be of different kinds.

5 Period Patterns Noticed in PCOS

• Delayed Periods: Delay in periods is the most commonly observed problem. Most women suffering from PCOS experience a delay of a few weeks to three months.
• Early Periods: Several women may even experience early periods. They might get periods even before completing the minimum 21-day cycle.
• Irregular Periods: Some women may not get their periods even after 45 days from the due date. This gap can be even longer. While some women may get their periods even before 21 days from their last period.
• No Periods Without Medicines: Some women require the help of hormonal pills to initiate their periods. They simply can’t have periods without them.
• Regular Periods: Few women suffering from PCOS may also have regular periods. A regular period cycle can make detection of PCOS difficult in such cases.

However, that doesn’t mean those women will not experience other problems caused by PCOS. Therefore, you must consult a doctor immediately even if you have regular periods but experience other symptoms mentioned below.

2. Very Heavy/Scanty Bleeding

Even the bleeding pattern in women can be different. All women may not bleed in the same way.

4 Bleeding Patterns are Noticed in PCOS

• Heavy Bleeding: Some women may experience excessive amounts of bleeding. Some may bleed for prolonged periods.
• Scanty Bleeding: Many women may observe minimal bleeding. They might bleed only for a few hours or 1-2 days maximum.
• Normal Bleeding: Some women suffering from PCOS have normal bleeding.
• Blackish Discharge: Some women might notice a dark discharge that may appear to be blackish in color. Both heavy or scanty bleeding patterns can be indicative of PCOS.

3. Sudden/ Unexpected Weight Fluctuation

Sudden or unexpected fluctuation in weight out of the blue is a real possibility in PCOS.

• Weight Gain: Many women start gaining weight rapidly. They might pile up several kilos in a month. They might notice that in the form of additional fat on the belly, thighs, and hips. It is usually the most common symptom in women.
• Weight Loss: A few women can also experience sudden weight loss. The number of such women is less, but it is a real possibility.

Why does PCOS Lead to Weight Gain?<

Weight gain is a cyclic reaction. When we follow an unhealthy diet and lifestyle, it usually leads to poor digestion or indigestion. Many people do not treat indigestion as a big problem, but it is. Indigestion leads to the formation of Ama. It is the byproduct. Ama is the sticky toxin that can hamper the normal functioning of the cells. This Ama reaches every cell in the body through the blood and covers the cell receptors. It blocks the channels in the cells. Therefore, the cells become incapable of accepting nutrition.

On the other hand, the nutrition procured from your food keeps piling up in the bloodstream. Hence, the extra nutrition is converted into fat. This is the simple process of weight gain.

4. Type 2 Diabetes: Insulin Resistance in PCOS

Insulin resistance is one of the most common symptoms of PCOS. Almost 40% of women suffer from insulin resistance before they reach their 40s. Timely identification of insulin resistance symptoms is important for curing PCOS and avoiding diabetes.

Why Does It Happen?

Insulin resistance is also a result of Ama buildup caused by poor diet and lifestyle. An unhealthy diet and lifestyle lead to poor digestion. Ama is a byproduct of indigestion. It travels to every cell in the body through the blood. It blocks the receptor channels in the cells. Your cells need insulin to absorb energy and nutrients. But Ama blocks the receptor channels, and cells cannot identify insulin hormone. Hence, the insulin piles up in the bloodstream. This is called insulin resistance.

Common symptoms of insulin resistance are:

• Unusual weight gain
• Skin darkening in folded skin like in the neck or groin area
• Unexplained lethargy
• Craving for sweets

5. Acne, Pigmentation, Dull Skin

Acne

One can easily notice skin problems like acne, pigmentation, and dull skin. These are unmistakable. Still, many women are not able to relate these signs to PCOS.

Many women unaffected by PCOS also get acne or pimples during their periods. However, the pimples go away as soon as the periods are over. Unfortunately for women with PCOS, the ordeal is neverending.

They might have more prominent acne in the lower third of the face, like the chin, cheek, jaw, and neck. The PCOS-associated acne appears like knots beneath the skin surface. It is cystic in appearance and filled with pus.

Ama is responsible for this pus-filled acne. When there is too much Ama in the body, it blocks the flow of nourishment to the skin cells. That’s the reason the acne in PCOS is more aggravated and pus-filled. If you have prominent acne with irregular periods, you must consult a doctor immediately.

Excessive Ama in your body is also a reason for skin darkening and discoloration. Ama deprives the cells of their nutrients, and they start losing their lustre.

6. Male Pattern Hair Growth

Male pattern hair growth is a peculiar problem. Many women suffering from PCOS are cursed to bear it all their lives.

It is important to understand that the main reason for male pattern hair growth is the excess male hormone production. Every woman has both male and female hormones. However, the ratio of female hormones is much greater than male hormones. This balance is maintained with great precision.

Unfortunately, PCOS can disturb this hormonal balance and cause problems like male pattern hair growth, male-pattern baldness, and hair thinning.

Male pattern hair growth is a symptom of PCOS. It starts with an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. It leads to indigestion and the formation of Ama or sticky toxins. The Ama travels through the blood and reaches the ovaries. It blocks the ovary channels. As a result, the ovarian function gets disturbed. The ovaries are not able to produce the required hormones. It leads to severe hormonal imbalances in the body. Your body starts producing male hormones in excess because the ovaries are not producing the female hormones. This gives way to male pattern hair growth.

So, if you observe male pattern hair growth specifically on your face, chest, and back, it signifies hormonal imbalance. Lowering the Ama in the body is the best way to reinstate the balance.

7. Excessive Hair Fall

Excessive hair thinning near the front of the scalp or hair fall at the crown indicates excessive Ama and high male hormone production.

When there is too much Ama in your body, it can block the hair follicles. Your hair stops getting the needed nourishment, leading to hair thinning and hair fall.

8. Pregnancy: Infertility and Difficulty to Conceive

Infertility and difficulties in conceiving result from several factors. Infertility cannot be attributed to PCOS alone. But it is an undisputed fact that PCOS can create several obstructions in your pregnancy path. PCOS can make conception very difficult. It creates unfavorable conditions for the growth of the eggs or timely ovulation, leading to infertility.

Even difficulties in conceiving are not unrelated to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Poor digestion leads to the formation of Ama, which can travel through the blood. It reaches the ovaries and blocks the ovarian channels. The production of hormones is affected. It slows down the egg growth in the ovaries. Hence, slow or no egg growth and lack of ovulation are the direct results. They cause difficulties leading to failure in conception.

Controlling Ama can help in increasing the production of hormones that facilitate pregnancy.

9. Thyroid

Thyroid disorders are pretty common in women these days. Women with PCOS have a three times higher risk of having thyroid disorder. Both Thyroid and PCOS have their roots in lifestyle disorders and unhealthy diets. Hence, they usually exist in the same patient at the same time. However, both diseases have different treatment approaches. Patients must note that they must get themselves checked for PCOS if they have a thyroid disorder because both are known to exist together.

Takeaways

Even any one of these symptoms can be a sign of PCOS. If you notice any of these, you must not wait for other symptoms to appear. That will only worsen the problem and make treatment lengthier. PCOS is a curable disorder in Ayurveda. A healthy diet, lifestyle, and effective Ayurvedic intervention can help you reverse PCOS forever.