What does PCOS means for long term health?

What could PCOS mean for my long-term health? Says Dr ( Mrs) Pulkit Nandwani

 If you have PCOS, you are at greater risk of developing the long-term health problems discussed below.

Insulin resistance and diabetes 

If your blood glucose does not stay normal, this can lead to diabetes. One or two in every ten women with PCOS go on to develop diabetes at some point. If the diabetes is untreated, this can cause damage to organs in the body.

 If you have PCOS, your risk of developing diabetes is increased further if you:
 • are over 40 years of age
 • have relatives with diabetes
 • developed diabetes during a pregnancy (known as gestational diabetes)
 • are obese (a body mass index (BMI) of over 30).

 If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you will be given advice about your diet and may be prescribed tablets or insulin injections.

High blood pressure

 Women with PCOS tend to have high blood pressure, which is likely to be related to insulin resistance and to being overweight rather than to the PCOS itself. High blood pressure Women with PCOS tend to have high blood pressure, which is likely to be related to insulin resistance and to being overweight rather than to the PCOS itself. High blood pressure can lead to heart problems and should be treated. 

Cancer and PCOS

 If you have fewer than three periods a year, the lining of the womb (endometrium) can thicken and this may lead to endometrial cancer in a small number of women. There are various ways to protect the lining of the womb using the hormone progestogen.

Your doctor will discuss the options with you. This may include a five-day course of progestogen tablets used every three or four months, taking a contraceptive pill or using the intrauterine contraceptive system (Mirena®).

The options will depend on whether you are trying for a baby.

 PCOS does not increase your chance of breast or ovarian cancer. Depression and mood swings The symptoms of PCOS may affect how you see yourself and how you think others see you. It can lower your self-esteem. Snoring and daytime drowsiness PCOS can lead to fatigue or sleepiness during the day. It is also associated with snoring. 

Source: https://www.rcog.org.uk/

pressure can lead to heart problems and should be treated.