She was tired because she was fat. She was a liar, doctors told her, because she had to be concealing her true eating habits. Most people have never heard of the disease, but PCOS affects an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of all women of childbearing age. There is no simple way to define the disease, but at the basic level, it is caused by a hormonal imbalance. Women with the condition produce too many male hormones, and they frequently have trouble with insulin, another hormone that regulates sugar in the body.
Symptoms vary among women.
But often, the ovaries are permeated with tiny, fluid-filled sacs called cysts. The women have irregular periods or none at all. It commonly leads to obesity, excessive hair growth, acne and infertility. There is no cure, but doctors say the ailment can be managed. Many PCOS patients can have babies, lose weight and improve their health, if they know what they are dealing with.