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August 26, 2022

Are you familiar with PCOS? Perhaps you’ve heard of it from your friends, or read about on the Internet. Maraming kumakalat na impormasyon ngayon online tungkol sa PCOS. Ang ilan ay katotohanan, ngunit marami ring haka-haka lang. Ang mga sintomas nito ay maihahalintulad sa iba pang karamdaman, kaya nagkakaroon ng maraming misconceptions tungkol dito. Let’s clear a few things up as we debunk the myths and discuss the facts about PCOS.

Ano nga ba ang PCOS?

Una sa lahat ano nga ba ang PCOS? Ang Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) ay isang hormonal disorder na kadalasang nakikita sa mga kababaihang nasa hustong edad para magbuntis o nasa reproductive age. Dito, nagkakaroon ng mga bukol o cysts ang babae sa kanyang ovaries at sa matris. Ito ang nagdudulot ng hormonal imbalances sa babae.

Image from Glamour UK

Both male and female hormones are necessary for the normal functioning of our body. For women with PCOS, their bodies produce too much of the male sex hormone androgen. This hormonal imbalance causes cysts to grow because of the eggs not being released as part of the normal ovulation cycle.

Some symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, oily skin or acne, male pattern baldness, thinning of hair, hirsutism (excess facial hair growth), and obesity coupled with difficulty losing weight.

PCOS FACTS AND MYTHS

FACT: PCOS is a Cause of Ovulatory Infertility

PCOS is indeed a common cause of infertility. The hormonal imbalance affects the ovary’s ability to release an egg to be potentially fertilized for pregnancy. But this doesn’t mean women with PCOS can no longer get pregnant. They may only have trouble conceiving, or they take longer to get pregnant. This still doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Although women with PCOS are more prone to pregnancy issues such as preterm delivery, stillbirth, and miscarriages, they can have successful pregnancies.  It is still best to speak with your OB-GYN regarding managing PCOS in order to get pregnant.  

MYTH: Irregular Periods = PCOS

Irregular periods are only one of the most common symptoms of PCOS, but these do not always equate to PCOS. There are many varying factors that may affect the menstrual cycle. Overexercising, extreme dieting, breastfeeding, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory diseases, and even thyroid disorders may all contribute to irregular periods. Stress and a sudden change in lifestyle may also factor in.

FACT: Regular Exercise Can Help Improve PCOS

Since there is no cure for PCOS, managing symptoms becomes the primary focus of treatment. Regular exercise and losing weight, especially for women who are obese or overweight can help them balance their hormone levels. This can help them regulate the insulin in their bodies and address one symptom of PCOS.

MYTH: Only Overweight Women Can Get PCOS

PCOS is not only for obese and overweight women. Although it is more common among them, specialists have not claimed that women who are underweight or with the ideal weight are safe from PCOS: walang pinipili ang PCOS. Women of all shapes and sizes can have PCOS, mainly because of insulin resistance or excess androgen hormones. 

FACT: Women with PCOS is At Risk of Gestational Diabetes

Most women with PCOS are insulin resistant. Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. If untreated, PCOS could increase the chances of women developing gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a condition that develops during pregnancy in which the mother has high blood sugar (glucose) levels. We all know that babies only get their nutrients from the mother, thus, during pregnancy, the mother is already hyperglycemic (high blood glucose) as the glucose is also allocated to the baby. Insulin resistance and hyperglycemia make women with PCOS more prone to gestational diabetes. 

MYTH: PCOS is Rare

PCOS is not rare, only undetected. People with irregular periods or acne would often attribute these to stress. This is one reason PCOS is often left undiagnosed. Data shows PCOS affects 5 to 20 percent of the female population and from this, 50 to 70 percent are left undiagnosed. The 5 to 20 percent may not seem a lot but in the Philippines, it is estimated that 4.5M Filipinas are living with PCOS. This makes it one of the most common disorders in the endocrine system.  

Tips for Staying Informed with PCOS

Get Regular Check-Ups 

This is not just for PCOS but also for other possible underlying medical conditions. Routinary check-ups are important for staying healthy. Doctors may detect other conditions you are unaware of and address them before it gets worse. This may also reduce the risk of getting sick and in the long run reduce healthcare costs by avoiding more expensive medical treatments. 

Stay in Touch with Your Doctor

In relation to having regular check-ups, it is important to stay in touch with your doctor especially if they have identified a condition. For successful treatment and medication, it is important to update them on any changes in your body or your condition. Listening to their advice is the key to managing your PCOS symptoms and preventing any further complications.

Don’t Rely on the Internet for Answers

We know the internet is full of knowledge and different credible sources nowadays, but it is still better to consult with an expert instead of guessing what your condition is. Doing this and self-medicating may cause complications or worsen your condition. Healthcare professionals, hospitals, and clinics are all there to help us with caring for our health. There is no need to rely on the internet for answers to our health.

Now that we’ve debunked some myths about PCOS, sana ay mas lumawak ang inyong kaalaman patungkol sa sa sakit na ito. Lagi nating tandan na our body will give us signs and it is best not to ignore these signs. If you ignore these signs, you could let it worsen. Bago pa lumala ang ating karamdaman, mas makakabuti kung ikokonsulta na ito agad sa doktor o mga experto.

Alagaan at ingatan natin ang ating mga sarili!

SOURCES:

• 30 Interesting Facts About PCOS. (n.d.). Www.nutritioncareofrochester.com. https://www.nutritioncareofrochester.com/article.cfm?ArticleNumber=53
• Myths and facts about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – Better Health Channel. (n.d.). Www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au. Retrieved September 1, 2022, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/myths-and-facts-on-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-pcos
• 12 PCOS Myths, Debunked. (n.d.). EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022, from https://www.everydayhealth.com/pcos/myths-debunked/
• Top 12 Facts on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. (n.d.). Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health_statistics/health_facts/top-12-factson-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome.htm