Search

What are the 4 types of PCOS?

Category:
1 fertility expert(s) answered this question

Answer from: Sibte Hassan, MBBS, FCPS, MRCOG, MSc

Gynaecologist, Fertility specialist and Gynaecologist at London Womens Clinic
play-video-icon-yt

I think Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a whole spectrum of disorders. People could have polycystic ovarian appearance on ultrasound scan but they might not have any symptoms related to PCOS as we call it which are as I said different symptoms in the form of either: hair growth and acne changes because of increased testosterone level or because of more sustained estrogen level and because they are not releasing a mature egg every month which means that their other hormone (which is progesterone hormone) which leads to organized shedding of the lining of the womb is not there, then it leads to sustained stimulation of the lining of the womb and it does not get shed, so the cycle becomes prolonged. When they have bleeding, it is heavier because it is stimulated again by the estrogen hormone. So heavy prolonged periods or prolonged cycles is due to muscular imbalance and because they are not releasing a mature egg every month so, they get fertility problems as well. People could have any set of symptoms in the spectrum and the symptoms could be just mild and manageable or they could be severe symptoms. This is very variable, it could be some underlying genetic interaction with environmental factors which we do not completely know. Spectrum could be wide and symptoms could be milder and this is the reason why they get symptoms. Symptoms due to raised testosterone level, symptoms due to raised estrogen levels which is not physiological estrogen (it is a different type of estrogen) and symptoms because they are not releasing a mature egg every month and symptoms because their tissues are resistant to insulin (so there is more insulin in the body) and we all know that insulin is a growth hormone which can lead to more fat cells, obesity and hunger and this is a vicious circle going on and on. More fat cells, more estrogen, more hormonal imbalance and all these symptoms they get progressed sometimes.

About this question:

Are there different kinds of PCOS?

How do I know which type of PCOS I have? Is it important to know which type of PCOS you have? How can it help knowing the type I have? Is the treatment or prognosis any different with each type?

Find similar questions:

Related questions