HAPPY PCOS Awareness Month

September is PCOS Awareness Month which serves as an opportunity to raise awareness of this condition. It’s important to understand the history of PCOS to know where we stand today.

The first description of PCOS was founded by Stein and Leventhal. However, Vallisneri, an Italian medical scientist, physician, and naturalist reported an interesting finding. In 1721, Vallisneri, defined an infertile woman with shiny ovaries with a white surface and her ovaries were the size of pigeon eggs. [1]

Well, let’s fast forward to 1935 to Stein and Leventhal. They described a case series of seven women with menstruation disturbances, hirsutism, and enlarged ovaries with many small follicles. From this, they concluded that the combination of symptoms reflects a clinical condition called, a syndrome of polycystic ovaries. [2] As we continue to learn more about PCOS, it’s important to raise awareness about this condition and to support those who are affected by it.

In the 1980s and 90s, research about PCOS started to gain momentum. Studies showed that PCOS is a complex condition with metabolic and cardiovascular risks. It affects a variety of biochemical pathways including insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and gonadotropin dysregulation. As a result of these studies, PCOS became recognized as a significant health issue for women and was added to diagnostic criteria manuals. The National Institute of Health (NIH) sponsored a conference on PCOS that provided guidance on the condition and standards to the medical community on how to diagnosis patients. [3] It’s evident that our understanding of PCOS has come a long way in the last few decades.

In the 21st century, we’ve seen more progress in understanding PCOS. New genetic studies have improved our understanding of how PCOS is caused. Along with medical guidance, your voice is important in the development of PCOS. The best advocate for PCOS is YOU. There is no cure for PCOS, but healing begins when you S.P.E.A.K. UP.

SPEAK UP

1. Share Your Story
2. Pay Attention to Your Symptoms
3. Educate Yourself
4. Advocate for Yourself
5. Know Your Options

September is PCOS Awareness Month, and it’s observed globally. The purpose of this month is to educate people about PCOS, its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. In addition, Cupful Delights was founded to provide support groups and natural remedies for women with PCOS.

 

[1] Insler V, Lunesfeld B. Polycystic ovarian disease: A challenge and controversy. Gynecol Endocrinol. 1990;4:51-69.

[2] Stein IF, Leventhal ML. Amenorrhoea associated with bilateral polycystic ovaries. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1935;29:181–191.

[3] History of discovery of polycystic ovary syndrome. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2017 May-Jun;26(3):555-558. doi: 10.17219/acem/61987. PMID: 28791833.