PCOS part 1 – what is it?
What is PCO or PCOS?
Poly cystic ovaries (PCO) or poly cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a medically diagnosed condition in women (ONLY). Diagnosis (and agreement on it has taken years) is made when a woman has a high androgen (testosterone state) on blood testing and cysts on her ovaries.
Unfortunately I think this diagnosis (and medicine has grappled with correct criteria) is a bit misleading. For example, women with testosterone and may have other symptoms but not the cysts and are told they don’t have PCO.
I think a slight adjustment in the name (and diagnosis) would serve us all better.
I think it should be called Female Hormone Disorder (FHD) with either a testosterone dominance or estrogen dominance or both.
So a woman with high testosterone but normal oestrogen would be diagnosed with FHD testosterone dominant.
The key features for PCO are:
- high testosterone
- sometimes no periods
- belly fat
- problems losing fat
- acne
- oily skin, oily hair
- cysts on ovaries
- unwanted facial hair or excessive body hair
- thinned out or widows peak
- anger, aggression, irritability
If you would like more information, I have made a video clip with Dr Michael Flynn and recording explaining it further in my PCO Discovery Pack. This package also includes my # 1 best seller, Beauty & the Beast Within.
If you know of other women with PCO please share – they too can benefit.
