What is PCOS?

The short answer is this: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS may also cause unwanted changes in the way you look. If it is not treated, over time it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (or PCOS) is common, affecting as many as 1 in 15 women. Often the symptoms begin in the teen years. Treatment can help control the symptoms and prevent long-term problems.

But the longer, more detailed answer, taken from here is:

"In each menstrual cycle, follicles grow on the ovaries. Eggs develop within those follicles, one of which will reach maturity faster than the others and be released into the fallopian tubes. This is "ovulation". The remaining follicles will degenerate.

In the case of polycystic ovaries, however, the ovaries are larger than normal, and there are a series of undeveloped follicles that appear in clumps, somewhat like a bunch of grapes. Polycystic ovaries are not especially troublesome and may not even affect your fertility.

However, when the cysts cause a hormonal imbalance, a pattern of symptoms may develop. This pattern of symptoms is called a syndrome. These symptoms are the difference between suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome and from polycystic ovaries.

So you can have polycystic ovaries without having PCOS. However, nearly all women with PCOS will have polycystic ovaries. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the name given to a metabolic condition in which a woman will have polycystic ovaries, along with a certain pattern of other symptoms that reflect imbalances in reproductive and other hormones.

We referred to polycystic ovarian syndrome as a “metabolic" disorder. By this we mean that there are numerous factors in basic body processes that have gone awry. Because your body is a unified whole, a problem or dysfunction in one area causes dysfunction in other areas. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a dysfunction that is related to your whole body, not just your ovaries.

Let’s define some terms:

"Syndrome" simply means a set of symptoms that occur together, in a pattern.
"Polycystic" means there is an accumulation of incompletely developed follicles (cysts) in the ovaries.
"Polycystic ovarian syndrome" refers to a health disorder where there may be many cysts in the ovaries, accompanied by a distinctive pattern of symptoms.
"Metabolic" refers to the physical and biochemical processes required for the body to function.
"Polycystic ovary syndrome" is the name given to a metabolic condition in which a woman will have cystic ovaries, along with a certain pattern of other symptoms that reflect imbalances in reproductive and other hormones.

We referred to polycystic ovary syndrome as a “metabolic disorder”. By this we mean that there are numerous factors in basic body processes that have gone awry. Because your body is a unified whole, a problem or dysfunction in one area causes dysfunction in other areas. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a dysfunction that is related in some way to your whole body, not just your ovaries."

Welcome to my PCOS blog!

My name is Donna and I have PCOS. There. I said it.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2001 but I really have not done anything to improve my health...yet. I'm starting now. This blog will be my journal about the struggle. What works and what doesn't. At least for me.

Many people find out that they have PCOS when they are struggling to conceive. That's when I found out. But now, 8 years later, I have two beautiful children through the miracle of adoption. I have no desire to become pregnant. But there is so much more to PCOS than infertility.

I'm 36 years old, 5' 8', and obese. I also have high bood pressure. My other PCOS related symptoms are acne and excessive facial hair.

My life has been a whilwind the past year (I'll spare you the details) and my eating habits have gone from bad to worse.

As I near 40 and I have started to hear about old friends with medical problems, I finally realize I have got to start taking better care of myself or I'll be dead at a very young age. I certainly don't want that.

So I am beginning an exercise program from "A Patient's Guide to PCOS" by Dr. Walter Futterweit. I'm also researching various weight-loss programs. Managing weight is a big part of staying healthy with PCOS.

I certainly hope that this blog can be a help to anyone needs it.