Is it possible to have both PCOS & endemetiorosis?!
Question: I have been diagnosed with PCOS but have had symptoms of endo for over 5 years, i wondered if its possible to have both, or if they could be connected in anyway. thanks and god bless.x
Answers: I have been diagnosed with PCOS but have had symptoms of endo for over 5 years, i wondered if its possible to have both, or if they could be connected in anyway. thanks and god bless.x
Yes, because they are two separate conditions.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder where you have high levels of certain sex hormones and irregular, or no, menstrual periods. You can also have lots of cysts on your ovaries. PCOS is characterised by a number of symptoms, such as excess facial and body hair, acne, obesity and infertility. About one in 10 women in the UK develops the condition.
Polycystic means 'many cysts' and gives the condition its name.
Women have two ovaries, which are small organs inside the body where the egg cells are produced and stored. The ovaries also produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. When you release an ovum (egg) into the uterus (womb) you 'ovulate'. This happens once a month. Before the egg is released, it develops in a small swelling on the ovary called a follicle.
The follicles can sometimes stop growing too early. Instead of bursting to release the egg, they gradually build up on the ovaries to form lots of small cysts. These cysts are swollen egg chambers. These kind of cysts are not cancer.
A polycystic ovary is one with lots of cysts on its surface. There are usually 12 or more cysts that are 2-9mm in size. Sometimes only one ovary is affected.
PCOS is a syndrome that can affect your menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, heart, blood vessels and appearance. Women with PCOS have these characteristics:
high levels of a hormone called luteinising hormone (LH), produced by the pituitary gland (in the brain) and testosterone, the male hormone produced by the ovaries
an irregular or no menstrual cycle
many small cysts on the ovaries although these are not always present
For most women, polycystic ovaries don't cause any problems. But if you have polycystic ovaries along with high levels of hormones such as luteinising hormone and testosterone, and irregular, or no, menstrual periods you are likely to have PCOS.
It is also possible to have PCOS but not have polycystic ovaries and a doctor can diagnose the condition just on you having certain symptoms. The syndrome in this case is influenced purely by the hormone imbalance and is not related to the ovaries.
Most women with PCOS start to notice problems in their late teens or 20s. A range of symptoms is possible, but you are likely to have one or more of the following:
absent, infrequent or irregular periods due to the imbalance of hormones
infertility as you need to ovulate to become pregnant and some women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly or at all
obesity or weight gain
excess hair (hirsutism) - if you produce too much testosterone - which can develop in places such as the face, chest and tummy
alopecia (thinning hair) particularly at the top of your head and on your temples if you produce too much testosterone
acne which lasts longer than normal teenage years, again if you produce too much testosterone
The precise cause of PCOS is still not known. Several factors seem to be important.
Your genetic profile is important as PCOS can run in some families.
Levels of luteinising hormone and testosterone are important as these are often higher than normal in women with PCOS.
The way your body responds to insulin, the hormone that controls your blood sugar level may be involved. Insulin acts mainly on fat and muscle cells to make them take in sugar when your blood sugar level rises. Lots of women with PCOS have insulin resistance. This means the level of insulin in the blood needs to be higher than normal to control the blood sugar level. The high level of insulin causes the ovaries to make too much testosterone, which results in the symptoms like excess hair and acne.
Your body weight can also contribute to the cause of PCOS. Excess fat can make insulin resistance worse and can increase your insulin level. However, a symptom of having PCOS-related insulin resistance is weight gain due to the high levels of insulin. Whether it's insulin resistance that causes weight gain, or weight gain that causes insulin resistance, is not fully understood at present.
Endometriosis is where cells like the ones found in the womb lining (endometrium) grow on organs outside the womb. These go through the same monthly changes as the womb lining itself, sometimes swelling and bleeding into the body cavity. This bleeding can cause pain and swelling because, unlike a normal monthly period, the blood from endometriosis can't escape from the body through the vagina. Instead, the blood stays inside the body and may form rubbery bands of scar tissue, called adhesions. These can attach organs and tissues together and affect organs surrounding the womb.
Endometriosis is most common on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissues that hold the womb in place. You can also get endometriosis on or around other organs in your pelvis, such as your bladder or bowel. In very rare cases, endometriosis can occur on organs outside the pelvis.
Endometriosis can cause cysts (endometrioma) to form on the ovaries. These are also called "chocolate cysts" because of the brown fluid they contain. These cysts may not cause you any pain - you may only find out about them during an internal examination to check your fertility. But if they burst they can cause severe pain and form adhesions.
In some women, endometriosis gets better on its own. But for most, it gets worse without treatment.
No one knows for certain what causes endometriosis or why some women get it and others don't.
Endometriosis can affect any woman of childbearing age, regardless of ethnicity. It can also run in families. Women who have low fertility or very painful periods are more likely to have endometriosis. In some women, difficulty becoming pregnant is the first sign of endometriosis.
The symptoms of endometriosis can vary: some women have no symptoms at all, while others have severe pain. The most common symptom is pelvic pain that feels like period pain.
Symptoms include:
severe period pain
back pain during menstruation
pain during sexual intercourse
changes to periods, such as a small loss of blood before the period is due (spotting), irregular bleeding or heavy periods
infertility
painful bowel movements
difficulty becoming pregnant
fatigue
Endometriosis on the bowel or bladder may cause swelling of the lower abdomen and pain when going to the toilet, or blood in the faeces during a period. Symptoms of endometriosis usually disappear after the menopause.
I hope this helps.
U should go see ur local doctor. They can test and see exactly what u have. good luck!!! Ppl on here can not tell u bc they do not have test results.