PCOS Help

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS is an endocrine disorder that affects 5 out of 100 women worldwide and occurs among all races, nationalities and ethnic groups. It is a major cause of infertility and the most common hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age.

The symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Oligoovulation or anovulation – meaning there is either few or lack of ovulation
• Oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea – too few or lack of menstruation
• PCOS Infertility – caused by the lack of ovulation
• Hirsutism – increased bodily hair such as in the armpits, legs, chest, and face
• Acne and oily skin
• PCOS Hair loss
• Depression
• Obesity

Among the following, one of the most disheartening for women is PCOS hair loss. It is generally caused by the abundance of the male sex hormone, testosterone, which is also a major part of PCOS and also a leading factor of most of the symptoms.

However, it is interesting to note that while testosterone is the primary cause of hair loss among women with the condition, it is not the only notable factor. Women with PCOS tend to have thyroid problems also. They usually exhibit a low thyroid function known as hypothyroidism. With the decrease in thyroid function, thyroid hormones are significantly decreased and have an effect on the body’s metabolism.

With this drop in thyroid hormone levels means a drop in the basal metabolism rate of the person; that is why most women with PCOS are obese. But another effect of this drop in thyroid functions can also lead to the thinning of the hair due to the decreased metabolism leading to the decreased production of the vital proteins in the body.

Thus hair thinning of women with PCOS could be both due to an underactive thyroid and excessive amount of testosterone in the body.