But there came a day … metabolism is running off the rails…
and young women are affected – PCOS is suspected.
Sometimes when I mention my „lifestyle – research activities“ (see also DEBEC-Methode®) about PCOS I was asked “PC… what?” The professional answer is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Ah yes…
When I continue that PCOS is one of the most common metabolic-endocrine disorders found in women, affecting – figures depending on publication – 5-12% of women worldwide, everybody suggests that there must be a lot done by Research and Pharma Industry. But PCOS with an assumed patient’s volume of 20% is rather out of scope of the medical and pharmaceutical world.
Not really, because there are lots of therapies and drugs available for e.g. all metabolism related as well as endocrinology based diseases. There is no obvious need or public pressure in place, because PCOS is a hooded disease, a hidden disorder. And often there is a misinterpretation between PCO and the PCO-Syndrome. To improve the whole situation for already diagnosed and not diagnosed women an all over awareness is needed. Diagnostic and therapy must focus on PCOS as a standalone disease with acceptance and ensured tools/tests. PCOS affects both, metabolism and endocrinoloy disorder.
PCOS is always at hand!
From adolescence to menopause the syndrome is always at hand. This means PCOS is present throughout a woman’s life with a bag full of other diseases. The affected women have to fight with, e.g. male pattern body hair, hair loss, fatty skin, acne, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypercholesterolemia, menstrual disorder, infertility, depression, cancer – independent of races and/or ethnic groups.
Detecting PCOS at an early stage would help to enable an acceptable life for all concerned women. Therefore it is my vision that PCOS can be cured somewhere along the time.
Some Facts why it is not easy to become diagnosed:
- Young girls request themselves: Am I „normal“? and seal off
- Women do not report their symptoms
- Women do hair removal and negate the symptoms
- Women reflect to their family and find the explanation for themselves “normal”
- Medical Doctors do not learn enough about PCOS due to their education, they associate PCOS with being overweight: not true in all cases
- Doctors treat each symptom separately
- Missing collaboration by pediatricians, gynecologo- endocrino- and dermatologists
- Insufficient diagnostic methods, there is no flash test (e.g. for pregnancy) available
- A syndrome is not a disease. Diagnosis based on exclusion criteria (see Rotterdam Criteria)
- Characteristics can vary, e.g. body weight, eating habits, common lifestyle as well as oral contraceptive which has impact on test results (e.g. lower androgens, decrease body hair)
Improved situation – more awareness?!
To improve the situation for those women self-help groups are active. Most noteworthy the German support group (PCOS Selbsthilfe e.v.) initiated in collaboration with some medical doctors an additional training to make diagnosis and treatment of PCOS Patients easier. Finally the volume of studies and publications is increasing (see PubMed)
Awareness… a long way to go
The 3rd World congress of PCOS in November 2015 in Texas was an impressive platform to exchange results and to discuss with leading experts. 2018 the exchange had been continued at the 4rd World congress of PCOS in London as well as the Physician’s congress in Dubai and Vienna. I am optimistic to say that we reached a little bit more awareness than in the past… but it is still a long way to go!