Endometriosis and PCOS

Endo and PCOS
What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that normally lines the uterus, called the endometrium, grows outside of it. The most common sites of endometrial tissue growth are the ovaries, rectum, and lining of the pelvis.

How does endometriosis affect the body?

Endometriosis is a chronic health condition that occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. The growth of this extra tissue can cause symptoms like:

  • Painful periods
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Painful sex
  • Infertility
  • Painful bowel movements

You can’t stop endometriosis from happening, but you can control the pain it causes. Pain can be managed with medication, lifestyle changes and counseling.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends folic acid, found in leafy green vegetables, for uterus-bearers with a family history of anemia and for people whose ovarian cells have been affected by endometriosis. 

Endometriosis and PCOS are two gynecological conditions that have symptoms that overlap. The most obvious similarity is their shared symptom of irregular, heavy periods.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects people with ovaries of reproductive age. It can cause irregular menstrual periods, infertility, and excess hair growth. The symptoms of PCOS vary from person to person and may not be present in all people with the condition. PCOS is caused by high levels of androgens, which are male sex hormones.

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it’s likely due to an imbalance between hormones that control ovulation (the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle). One theory is that insulin resistance may play a role because some people with this disorder have high levels of insulin in their bodies—a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

A diagnosis of PCOS requires:

  • Irregular menstrual cycles — missing three or more periods over six months or having cycles that are more than 35 days or less than 21 days
  • No ovulation — fewer than eight follicles on each side at any given time; no follicle development after day seven; no corpus luteum formation by day 14; fewer than 20 corpora lutea at any given time
  • Clinical evidence of hyperandrogenism — hirsutism (excess facial/body hair), acne, male-pattern baldness
How does PCOS affect the body?

People with PCOS are likely to experience a range of symptoms. The most common include:

  • Irregular periods or no periods at all
  • Heavy bleeding during your period, which may cause anemia (a deficiency in red blood cells) or result in frequent hospital visits for the control of pain and heavy bleeding.
  • Painful periods — cramps that are worse than usual and last longer than normal, as well as pain during sexual intercourse.
  • Infertility — problems getting pregnant due to irregular ovulation or poor egg quality. More than half of women with PCOS have fertility problems related to their condition.
  • Acne — pimples on your face, chest, back and shoulders that don’t respond well to treatment with medicated creams because they’re caused by a hormonal imbalance rather than clogged pores like blackheads and whiteheads are (which typically occurs when the oil glands are overactive).
  • Weight gain — usually around the hips and bottom but sometimes all over; this could be due to insulin resistance (insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps sugar enter cells so they can use it for energy), fatty liver disease (excessive fat deposits within liver cells), increased appetite or overeating due to depression caused by hormone imbalances associated with PCOS (especially if left untreated).

We hope this article has helped you better understand endometriosis and PCOS. If you think that you may have either condition or both, we recommend that you contact your doctor right away so they can help. They will be able to give more information or refer you to a specialist who can assist with treatment options.

Sources

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, July 24). Endometriosis. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, September 8). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439

Polycystic ovary syndrome. Polycystic ovary syndrome | Office on Women’s Health. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/polycystic-ovary-syndrome

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Endometriosis. World Health Organization. Retrieved December 6, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis#:~:text=Endometriosis%20is%20a%20disease%20characterized,other%20parts%20of%20the%20body