5 PCOS Risks That Everyone Woman Should Know

PCOS risks are something that you need to discuss with your doctor.  Truthfully, most of us only view polycystic ovarian syndrome in light of today’s issues.  We think of PCOS and we only think of the cramps, the weight issues, the infertility, or that annoying facial hair.  However, it’s really important to look at PCOS through a long-term lens if we want to really understand the effects that it can have on our bodies.

If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, then you need to understand the health risks that are associated with this disease. The common PCOS risks will impact almost all sufferers and they can affect them for the rest of their life. It is important for women with PCOS to have their health checked and monitored regularly by a doctor who specializes in PCOS (find a reproductive endocrinologist pronto!). Even after a woman goes through menopause and symptoms of PCOS lessen, she still needs to see a doctor periodically.

PCOS Risk #1: Infertility

One of the PCOS risks is infertility. This is usually because women have irregular menstrual cycles and sometimes never ovulate at all. Many women have no idea they have PCOS until they go to the doctor to be checked to see why they are not getting pregnant.

PCOS Risk #2: Pregnancy Complications

Many women with PCOS deal with ovarian cysts that can also cause complications with and in pregnancy. Women with PCOS not only have trouble becoming pregnant, but they often have higher rates of miscarriages or preterm labor.  If you have read my personal PCOS story you know that I had two miscarriages and my son was born two months premature. 

PCOS Risk #3: Endometrial Cancer

 Another PCOS risk is Endometrial Cancer. Most women from their teen years until menopause have build up of their endometrial lining in their uterus and each menstrual cycle sheds that lining. Women with PCOS have infrequent or non-existent menstrual cycles, which cause them to not shed their endometrial lining effectively, and some doctors believe this can increase the risk for cancer over time.  Hormone imbalances could also be a contributing PCOS risk factor for endometrial and uterine cancer.

PCOS Risk #4: Cardiovascular Disease

One of the most common PCOS risks is cardiovascular disease. Women with PCOS are at a higher rick of developing heart disease. Because women with PCOS have a higher tendency to be overweight, this will also make cardiovascular problems arise.  Many women with PCOS have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which both contribute to heart disease over time.

PCOS Risk #5: Diabetes

Many women with PCOS symptoms also are at a high risk of Diabetes. Insulin resistance is very common with PCOS and this can lead to women with it to become diabetic much younger and faster than a healthy woman would. By age 40, up to 40% of women with PCOS begin to have high insulin levels, which lead to Diabetes.

PCOS risks need to be known and understood by women with PCOS. This can help these women to know what is to come and what they need to do to be healthier and have more control over their symptoms. PCOS risks can be alleviated with a healthy diet and exercise. They can also be helped with medication and procedures to give women with PCOS a more normal life.

Which of these 5 risks are most concerning to you?