Understanding pcos and hair loss

Understanding pcos and hair loss

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), is an endocrinal imbalance affecting one woman in ten. Its clinical name is Stein-Leventhal syndrome. Though hirsuitism i.e. usually masculine patterned growth of unwanted hair on the face, legs and sometimes chest. Also common is andgrogenic alopecia, quite like the male pattern.. But the chief features and symptoms associated with it are irregular ovulation along with irregular menstruation, and excessive secretions of masculine androgenic hormones.

Pcos and hair loss

PCOS is a complex disorder with many manifestations and is often very difficult to diagnose. Patients with PCOS will often have premature and severe androgenetic alopecia. The treatment for the hair loss, however, is the same for the patient, whether a diagnosis of PCOS is correct or not. Some women will not have PCOS, but instead have premature and severe early onset female-pattern hair loss.

The medical treatment of PCOS is patient specific as the symptoms are varied in each patient. But they can be mainly classified as:

• Treatment of infertily
• Treatment for acne and hirsuitism
• Restoring regular menstruation, preventing either endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer.

Polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms tend to start gradually. Most of the time, hormone changes that lead to PCOS start in the early teens, after the first menstrual period. Symptoms may be especially noticeable after a weight gain.

With PCOS, you may have only a few or many symptoms. It is often common for PCOS symptoms to be mistaken for other medical problems.

Early symptoms of PCOS include:

Few or no menstrual periods. This can range from not more than nine menstrual cycles in a year (more than 35 days between cycles) to no menstrual periods. A few women with PCOS have regular periods but are not ovulating every month. This is because that their ovaries are not releasing an egg each month. Heavy, irregular vaginal bleeding.

On the other hand ,many women with PCOS have fluctuating thyroid levels - but they are basically normal. Unfortunately far too many women see their gyn whenever their periods get strange and PCOS is NOT a gyn issue - just as women go to see dermatologists who are losing hair and the dermatologist might be inclined to go for the obvious answer - thyroid. But the rollercoastering hormones such as those for the thyroid, is simply part and parcel of the PCOS.

The insulin resistance can result in a series of effects that causes high levels of testosterone and other hormonal abnormalities which can vary from sufferer to sufferer. As a result,this will cause the activation of a hormone call DHT which is responsible for male pattern baldness. It has been found that men with male pattern baldness should see an endocrinologist who understands Syndrome X or Metabolic Syndrome (of which PCOS is a part).

The main problem in getting treatment for this condition in young women is, with the exception of topical minoxidil, that all the medications that may be effective are contraindicated in a female of childbearing potential who may become pregnant. But, in the hands of hair-loss experts, so-called off-label indications for medication can be used successfully in women of childbearing potential who are definitely not going to become pregnant while on treatment. If a patient wishes to become pregnant they can go off treatment and resume it at a later time.

PCOS and hair loss as symptom do affect some women. Pcos can silently do a lot of damage to your body (it has to mine) for years if left untreated, and the fact you are noticing hair loss now is a blessing and sign for you to get appropriate treatment.