What are the health problems associated with PCOS?
Although PCOS is primarily a problem of the ovaries, the condition alters hormone levels and affects tissues throughout the body. Weight gain and obesity – PCOS is associated with gradual weight gain and obesity in about one-half of the women with this condition. Diet and exercise can help maintain a normal body weight. For some women with PCOS, the obesity develops at the time of puberty. Insulin abnormalities and diabetes – PCOS is also associated with abnormal blood insulin levels, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. These abnormalities may include: • Hyperinsulinemia (excess production of insulin) • Insulin resistance (poor response of body tissues to insulin) • Impaired glucose tolerance (a condition of borderline diabetes mellitus) • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels) Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia can occur in both normal-weight and overweight women with PCOS. By age 40,
