Facts about PCOS

¤ Is one of the leading causes of infertility in women.

¤ Affects up to 10% (6 million) of women of reproductive age in the United States - most of whom aren’t even aware they have it.

¤ As many as 30 percent of women have some characteristics of the syndrome.

¤ Onset usually begins at puberty, but can begin when a woman is in her early 20s.

¤ Associated with increased risk for endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial cancer, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

¤ We are seven times more likely to risk the development of Type 2 diabetes due to insulin resistance.

¤ We are seven times more likely to risk having a heart attack.

¤ We are four times more likely to risk the development of hypertension (high blood pressure).

¤ Those of us with untreated PCOS run the risk of endometrial cancer early in life due to the irregular shedding of the endometrium.

¤ Has been identified for over 75 years (two French doctors made reference to “the diabetes of bearded women”), and the cause is still unknown.

¤ There are studies being conducted to see if there may be a genetic link - that PCOS is passed along in families.

¤ There is no known prevention...and no known cure.