Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be debilitating in the short term. But the long-term consequences of PCOS can be even more severe. You likely feel that your body is working against you. It feels like you have no control over your symptoms and health.
We’re here to tell you that you do. All your fears are justified. But you don’t have to give in to band-aid fixes that prevent you from enjoying your life.
PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age¹. Although it’s widespread, the variety and commonality of symptoms mean that up to 75% of individuals with this disorder are undiagnosed in clinical practice.
The most common symptoms of PCOS are:
Missed, irregular, or very heavy or light periods
Excess hair growth (Hirsutism)
Weight gain, usually in the belly
Acne (typically cystic)
Infertility
The most widely accepted diagnostic process for PCOS uses the following criteria². A diagnosis is given if two out of three are met and other possible causes are ruled out.
Irregular ovulation and/or anovulation (no ovulation)
Ovarian cysts (ultrasound can determine their presence)
Hyperandrogenism (an excess of male-dominant hormones)
The symptoms above are all signs of hyperandrogenism. This hormone excess can also cause oily skin and baldness.
These symptoms alone might not seem too serious. However, the potential long-term consequences of PCOS are. We're going to go into these complications in the next section.
We at The Kala Co. help our clients with PCOS and hormonal imbalances be more proactive so they can:
1. Feel better and empowered now
2. Be healthier and happier in the future
3. Experience a greater health-span (be healthy even as you age)
The Long-Term Complications of PCOS
The long-term consequences of PCOS can be life-threatening.
Your genetics may put you at a higher risk of developing certain health conditions. But lifestyle and nutrition choices play a huge role in mitigating long-term risks.
Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
A family history of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes is common in women with PCOS. This suggests that certain genetic variants put individuals at a higher risk of developing PCOS and insulin resistance.
Those with PCOS often have higher levels of male hormones called androgens. These hormones affect the ability of your cells to absorb and use glucose.
In response, your pancreas overcompensates. It produces more insulin as your body resists it. This increase in insulin then increases androgen production by the ovaries, promoting a vicious cycle.
Once this becomes chronic, it can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. This is due to the beta cells of your pancreas being unable to produce enough insulin to account for the resistance. Your blood glucose levels rise and type 2 diabetes can develop if they go unmanaged.
Psychological Disorders
PCOS is linked to several psychological disorders including:
Anxiety
Depression
Eating disorders
Alzheimer’s Disease³
Androgens don’t only affect insulin uptake. They can also alter brain function and mood regulation. This likely puts women with PCOS at an increased risk of depression and anxiety.
However, the long-term complications of PCOS go beyond biological changes. There are also psychosocial factors at play such as body image and self-esteem issues. These usually relate to PCOS symptoms that affect physical appearance including:
Acne
Hirsutism
Weight gain
Living with a chronic condition like PCOS can also wreak havoc on your ability to enjoy and manage life. The stressors and challenges associated with PCOS take a toll on your mental health.
Finally, hormonal and metabolic imbalances can affect the function of neurotransmitters in your brain, which influence mood and behavior. Specifically, PCOS can lead to dysregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis⁴. The HPA axis controls your stress response. It also plays an important role in regulating several of your body’s systems, including your reproductive system.
Infertility
PCOS can contribute to reproductive issues that increase your likelihood of:
Infertility
Miscarriage
Premature birth
One of the most common symptoms of PCOS is anovulation (not ovulating at all) or irregular ovulation. You can’t get pregnant without ovulating. If your ovulation is irregular, it’s difficult to identify your fertile window each month. This is one reason many women with PCOS struggle to get pregnant.
When PCOS isn’t addressed, chronic anovulation and irregular menstrual cycles can disrupt the normal shedding of the endometrial lining.
Even if you can detect a pattern with your ovulation, this can reduce your chances of a successful pregnancy because the endometrium may not be properly developed or prepared for implantation of the fertilized egg. These effects on the endometrial lining also put you at a higher risk of developing endometrial cancers. We'll talk about this more in the next section.
Additionally, pituitary dysfunction is common with PCOS, so there’s often an imbalance between your luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). When your LH levels are elevated relative to your FSH levels, ovarian function and ovulation are affected further.
Even if you don’t want children someday, it’s important to address your symptoms. You can reduce the likelihood of developing other long-term complications of PCOS.
Endometrial Cancers
Another effect of anovulation is an increased risk for endometrial cancers.
The absence of ovulation inhibits progesterone production. There needs to be a balance between estrogen and progesterone to regulate the growth of the endometrial lining. Too much estrogen can cause continuous growth. This is known as endometrial hyperplasia. Endometrial cancer is a potential long-term complication of prolonged endometrial hyperplasia⁵.
Chronic low-grade inflammation is another issue associated with PCOS that can contribute to the development of endometrial cancer. Abnormally high levels of inflammatory markers and cytokines can:
Damage DNA
Increase cell proliferation (growth and division)
Alter immune system responses that normally protect against cancer
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is another potential long-term complication of PCOS.
Insulin resistance is a primary contributor to the development of NAFLD⁶. Hyperinsulinemia, an excess of insulin, can lead to increased fat storage in your liver, as the normal metabolism of fats is disrupted.
Obesity is another risk factor for NAFLD because the excess fat surrounding the organs makes insulin resistance and metabolic issues more likely.
PCOS is also linked to dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia in PCOS patients can manifest as elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)⁷.
Nutritional therapy can help balance lipid abnormalities resulting from your PCOS. Lipid abnormalities may contribute to the development and progression of NAFLD.
Other Complications
PCOS is associated with a higher risk of many other conditions and problems such as:
Stroke⁸
Sleep Apnea
Metabolic Syndrome
Coronary Heart Disease
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension
While this information may be overwhelming and scary, the most important message to take away is that you can reduce your risk of these health complications with holistic interventions.
What to Do Next to Prevent or Lessen the Long-Term Complications of PCOS
Many conventional approaches to PCOS don’t address the root cause. Instead, they mask symptoms until they eventually worsen. One common recommendation for PCOS is contraceptive pills. The pill can be harmful, especially with long-term use.
Birth control appears to decrease the risk of certain cancers, such as ovarian and endometrial cancers. However, they may increase the risk of others, including breast cancer.
There are more natural, holistic approaches for reducing your risk of long-term complications of PCOS.
We help our clients overcome their symptoms so they can enjoy their lives.
You deserve to feel confident in your ability to control your health. We'll work with you to create a personalized plan that helps you optimize your health. We focus on:
Stress management
Functional movement (exercise)
Nutrition and blood sugar balance
Hormone balance (and how it affects your fertility)
If you’re ready to feel better and be more in control of your health now and in the future, book a free consultation call here.
Don’t wait until your risk of developing any long-term complications of PCOS is high.
I suffered for years with PMDD and Endometriosis until I finally reached out for help. Now, I’m mostly symptom-free, as are many of our clients with PCOS. You can be too.
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