A New Name Sought For PCOS?

A New Name Sought For PCOS?

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PCOS is a condition that women can develop that makes it extremely difficult for them to conceive. Unfortunately, it is also a common condition and the most common time to develop it is when you are of child-bearing age. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here

The condition consists of small cysts that form on your ovaries. These cysts are actually made of immature egg follicles. But, once doctors decided to call these items cysts, the condition was given the name polycystic ovarian syndrome, even though that name isn’t entirely accurate. Now, there is debate regarding whether or not the name should be changed to something more appropriate.

What the Experts Say?

During an expert panel a few years back, the idea of changing the name to something else came up. Experts say that the name PCOS is rather confusing since it doesn’t accurately describe the condition. For starters, some women with the condition don’t even have the cysts and the presence of the cysts alone aren’t enough to diagnose the condition.

 

This confusion could lead to a massive delay of diagnosis, which could make it even harder for a woman to conceive. Experts believe that the name is a distraction to doctors who may focus solely on the cyst portion of the condition to diagnose it.

What Causes PCOS?

PCOS is caused by a hormonal imbalance. Estrogen and androgen will both be out of balance in women with this condition. These imbalances could lead to irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain and even acne. In addition to this, women with PCOS have a greater chance of developing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

This is another issue that comes along with diagnosing and treating PCOS. There are so many symptoms related to it that no woman will experience quite the same thing. This could easily confuse doctors who may mistake symptoms of PCOS for something else.

Experts hope that with a name change, this confusion can be kept to a minimum. However, they have yet to offer a new name to replace the old and make the condition less confusing. So, for now, women will have to be their own advocates and discuss all their symptoms and potential causes with their doctor.

Luckily, one of the main issues that women face with PCOS is irregular ovulation. For the most part, women can effectively treat this symptom and become pregnant. However, for more severe cases of PCOS, treating ovulation problems may not be enough. This is why working with your doctor to find the full cause of your symptoms is so important.

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Maureen Stephens, BS, RN
Maureen Stephens, BS, RN | ConceiveEasy
Ms. Stephens has spent over twenty years in the healthcare world, specializing in obstretical and medical/surgical nursing. She joined ConceiveEasy as she has a strong interest in educating and empowering women and promoting fertility awareness.

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