Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Over the Lifetime of a Woman

Featuring Dr. Sabrina Gill, MD, MPH, FRCPC

Video Title: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Over the Lifetime of a Woman Duration: 1 minute, 26 seconds

Polycystic ovary syndrome can impact women differently at different stages of their life.

In young women, if they're experiencing early puberty or of course during puberty, they struggle with the symptoms of irregular or painful periods, symptoms of excess testosterone such as the acne, the hair growth, hair thinning and even some potential weight issues.

In sort of the women in their 20s and 30s, those symptoms may persist, but on top of that, they may experience difficulties with fertility.

When women progress through menopause, the issues with regards to menstrual irregularity and fertility may not be as major a concern.

Symptoms of excess testosterone sometimes increase an early perimenopause but often times will decrease because the ovary is now not producing as much of those hormones.  

But in women with history of PCOS, post-menopausally, they are at higher risk of the metabolic abnormalities, particularly diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and potentially heart disease and stroke.  

So it's important at any stage of your life if you have polycystic ovary syndrome to stay in close contact with your family physician, have yourself appropriately evaluated at each time and seek the appropriate treatment.

Presenter: Dr. Sabrina Gill, Endocrinologist, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Endocrinologist