PCOS Major Cause of Infertility in Women

The month of September has specifically been set aside as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) awareness month but unfortunately not many women in Ghana are aware of this, talk-less of what the PCOS condition is about.

According to health professionals, PCOS is a key contributing factor to infertility in women.

For the health desk at the PUBLISHER, we are dedicating a whole month to raising awareness of the disease and to ensure that the ordinary Ghanaian woman is well informed about the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of PCOS.

In an interview with Ms. Cindy Ofori–Appiah, a Public Health Nurse (PHN) with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the condition is treacherous and must not be overlooked.

Ms. Ofori-Appiah describes it as a common endocrine system disorder among women of reproductive age.

According to her, women with PCOS may have enlarged ovaries that contain small collections of fluid.

“The ovaries look so beautiful, when you see it normal but what happens is that when there is a problem, it becomes proliferated and infused with fluid,” she said.

This disorder according to the PHN, makes it difficult for a woman to have normal menstrual cycle thereby leading to bareness.

She continues: “When this happens, you notice that, one, two three months, a woman is not having her menses. It means that something is happening to the ovaries. If you ignore and keep ignoring, then you are heading for something more fatal.”

A worse extension of the PCOS could lead to cancer of the uterus or ovarian cancer, Ms. Ofori-Appiah revealed.

Hormones gone ‘Gaga’

While the exact causes of PCOS are unclear, our resource person says when the ovaries begin to misbehave, it means that the victim may be experiencing some hormonal imbalances.

Women with PCOS create a higher than average level of Androgens.

The PHN explains that Androgens are normally present in both sexes, but typically are considered “male hormones.”

Elevated androgen levels in women will affect the development of eggs and interfere with ovulation. It would further make a woman’s system to begin to behave like that of a man and obviously, men do not carry babies.

“When a woman’s hormones are not balanced, you begin to have all these signs hair lose, acne, obesity and many more,” Ms. Ofori Appiah said.

In our next edition, The PUBLISHER would delve deeper into the symptoms and Treatment of PCOS.

Ms. Ofori-Appiah has taken it upon herself to embark on a massive campaign to deal with PCOS.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]