Types of PCOS – What are PCOS Symptoms and Treatment

What is PCOS?

PCOS full form is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It is a hormonal condition seen in women of reproductive age. It develops when the ovaries produce higher-than-normal levels of androgens, hormones usually present in small amounts. When hormones go out of balance, ovulation may not occur as it should, causing irregular periods, cysts, or even broader metabolic concerns. However, these can be managed with the right care.

Women diagnosed with PCOS often face irregular or completely missed menstrual cycles. In some cases, the bleeding may last for many days, all linked to disrupted ovulation. A hallmark of this condition is the presence of numerous tiny fluid-filled sacs, or cysts, along the edges of the ovaries. The cysts contain immature eggs that fail to mature or release, causing continued hormonal imbalance and fertility difficulties.

Nobody knows exactly what causes PCOS, but factors like genes, how your body handles insulin, and hormone imbalances can play a part. Spotting it early helps a lot. If left untreated, it can lead to serious issues like diabetes or infertility. Fortunately, with treatment and lifestyle changes, PCOS symptoms can be kept under control.

Types of PCOS

In this section, we will cover different types of PCOS and what kind of PCOS do you have.There are four types of PCOS: Insulin-resistant PCOS, Inflammatory PCOS, Hidden-cause PCOS, and Pill-induced PCOS.

1. Insulin-resistant PCOS

This is the most common type of PCOS. This type of PCOS is caused by smoking, sugar, pollution, and trans fat. In this, high levels of insulin prevent ovulation and trigger the ovaries to create testosterone.

If you have been told by your doctor that you are a diabetic on borderline and your glucose tolerance test was not normal. If you have increased levels of insulin and you are overweight, then you might be one having insulin resistance PCOD.

TIP- QUIT SUGAR! just shun the sugar, it should be your first step. A little amount of sugar is healthy but by taking it in large quantities you are contributing to insulin resistance. To prevent insulin resistance PCOS you can take inositol. A period of almost six to nine months is needed to improve from this type of PCOS as it is a slow process.

2. Pill-induced PCOS

This type is the second most common PCOS. It gets developed due to the birth control pills which suppress ovulation. For most women, these effects do not last long and they resume ovulating after the effect of the pill is over. But some women do not resume ovulating for months and years even after the effects of pills get over. During that time women should consult the doctor.

If you experience regular and normal periods before starting with the pills then this might be a sign of Pill-induced PCOS. Or if your levels of LH are increased in the blood test then this could be a sign too.

3. Inflammatory PCOS

In PCOS due to inflammation, ovulation is prevented, hormones get imbalanced and androgens are produced. Inflammation is caused due to stress, toxins of the environment, and inflammatory dietary like gluten.

If you have symptoms such as headaches, infections, or skin allergies and your blood tests show that you are deficient in vitamin D, your blood count is not normal, increased levels of thyroid then you might be one having inflammatory PCOS.

TIP- DON’T TAKE STRESS! Stop consuming inflammatory foods like dairy products, sugar, or wheat. Start taking supplements of magnesium as it has anti-inflammatory effects. The process of improvement takes about nine months as it is a slow process.

4. Hidden PCOS

This is a simpler form of PCOS, once the cause is addressed then it takes about three to four months to get resolved. Causes of Hidden PCOS: Thyroid disease, deficiency of iodine (ovaries need iodine), vegetarian diet ( it makes you zinc deficient and the ovaries need zinc) and artificial sweeteners.

If you are already done with numerous natural treatments for PCOS and nothing seems like working then consult the doctor and gather more information about it

Symptoms Of PCOS

Usually, the symptoms of PCOS are developed during the time of the first period of a woman and if it develops later, then the below-listed symptoms will tell you when to see a doctor.

1. Periods With Abnormalities

   Irregular, prolonged or infrequent menstrual cycles are one of the most common symptoms of PCOS. If you have less than 9 periods in a year, very heavy periods or a cycle of more than 35 days, then it is the time to see a doctor.

2. Polycystic Ovaries

   This situation the ovaries might get enlarged and as a result, the ovaries fail to function appropriately.

3. Increment In Androgen

   Increased levels of androgens (male hormones) result in physical appearances like excess body and facial hair and severe acne.

Other symptoms are high levels of stress, high blood pressure, sleep disorders, infertility, skin allergies, acne, dandruff, pelvic pain, depression, and low libido.

Causes Of PCOS

The apt cause of PCOS is not known but the factors affecting the causes might be:

1. Heredity

   According to some researches heredity could be one of the reasons behind PCOS as there are some genes which might link to PCOS.

2. Surplus Insulin

   Insulin is a hormone which is produced by the pancreas. It is the primary energy supplier of the body. When the body becomes resistant to the actions of insulin, the levels of blood sugar rises rapidly and due to which more insulin is might be produced by the body. Excess insulin can increase the production of androgen which can cause difficulties on ovulation.

3. Inflammation Of Low Grade

   This situation is related to the blood cells. Studies show that all those women who have PCOS develop a type of low-grade inflammation which lead to the production of androgens.

RISKS

Women who have mothers or sisters having PCOS have a higher risk of developing it than others who do not have this situation. Other health risks and complications related to PCOS are: miscarriage or premature delivery, infertility, endometrial cancer (cancer in the lining of the uterus), type 2 diabetes, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, abnormal bleeding from the uterus, high blood pressure, abnormalities in cholesterol levels (this increases the risks of cardiovascular diseases), high blood sugar, steatohepatitis, and heart attacks.

Treatment of PCOS

There is no apt cure for PCOS but the treatments are for factors that reflect the symptoms of Polycystic ovary syndrome. There are many treatment options which include:

1. Medications Of Diabetes

   The medicines recommended for diabetes will help to manage it as increased levels of sugar can cause PCOS.

2. Fertility Medications

   In infertility treatments, some medications are required which includes the usage of Clomid and injectable medicines such as FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). And, in some cases, letrozole is also recommended by the doctors.

3. Treatment For Infertility

   Infertility treatments like IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in-vitro fertilization), in these treatments some medications are given like spironolactone or eflornithine due to which excessive growth of hair is controlled.

** Women using spironolactone must use birth control due to the high risk of birth defects and breastfeeding is not recommended while the intake of this medicine.

Surgical Methods FOR PCOS

If lifestyle and medication therapies do not bring success, surgical management may be considered. This option is typically reserved for women who fail to respond to fertility medication or continue to experience ovulatory dysfunction. Surgery helps correct hormonal irregularities and supports conception.

1. Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling by Laser / for Anovulatory PCOS

For women struggling to ovulate despite medication, laparoscopic ovarian drilling can offer new hope. This minimally invasive surgery uses tiny cuts and laser tools to treat the ovaries, lowering excess male hormones. As a result, ovulation may return naturally, boosting fertility and chances of pregnancy.

2. Cyst Aspiration

In this process, the fluid from is cysts is aspirated (removed). This process relieves the discomfort which improves the fertility of women having PCOS. Cyst aspiration did only when cysts are not cancerous and it can be evaluated by ultrasound. After the surgery, the cysts will disappear and the fluid from the cyst will be removed which will be sent to the laboratory for a final evaluation if the cysts were cancerous or not.

3. Oophorectomy

Oophorectomy is a process or a surgical process by which one or both of the ovaries are removed. This surgical process is generally conducted to prevent some conditions like endometriosis, ovarian cancer or Polycystic ovary syndrome. This surgery lasts only a few hours but recovery takes time. After the surgery, women are recommended to give a lot of time to surgery. Patients should discuss their problems with the doctors.

So, ladies, this was all about PCOS Polycystic ovary syndrome and its types. Now you will be able to configure in which PCOS type are you! gather the information about your type, consult the doctor and do all the possible measures.

Conclusion

Since there are several types of PCOS and each shows up differently in every woman, treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Doctors usually start with lifestyle and medicine, but if that doesn’t work, surgeries like laparoscopic ovarian drilling can help. Through these surgeries, doctors can help restore hormone health, restart ovulation, and improve fertility outcomes, particularly for women with anovulatory PCOS.

PCOS may be lifelong, but it doesn’t have to control your life. Early diagnosis and personalised care open the door to better health and fertility.