Polycystic Ovaries and Female Acne
I just read about this devastating disorder that can occur in women which causes an increase of masculine characteristics in its victims called PCOS, or polycystic ovaries. I had heard before that women could get cysts on their ovaries, and this can lead to infertility, but had no idea of the side effects the condition could cause, or that it was related to the masculinzation of the female body in it’s patients. Turns out this disorder is a little different.
With polycystic ovary syndrome, women stop ovulating and in turn start to develop more masculine, often embarrassing traits. They may grow thicker, draker hairs in places like their face and other typical areas a man would grow hair, they tend to have terrible acne, and male pattern baldness, among other very unsavory characteristics that become suddenly evident.
Scientists are linking an increase in this syndrome, which they also think is a leading cause of infertility in women, to obesity. Their theory is that insulin overload somehow causes the condition, and insulin overload often occurs when women gain a lot of weight. They also say that it makes itself known in thin women many times only after they’ve gained significant weight.
We all know that acne is linked to higher than normal androgens, which are male hormones, and can also be linked to increased levels of estrogen, so it makes sense that this condition, which causes male hormone overload, would lead to severe acne in many of its patients. The condition can also lead to skin discoloration, just adding to more skin woes, by making it have dark brown discolorations similar to melasma, or perhaps identical to this other skin condtion that affects women.
Many times it is hard for doctors to diagnose PCOS because they may only get half the story from their patients, so if you think you may have this problem at some point, or are having a hard time getting pregnant, you may want to make sure you keep careful note of any symptoms you are experiencing so your physician has the best picture of what may be wrong with you and can diagnose and treat you effectively.
