PMOS or PCOS

WHAT IS POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS)? Now called PMOS(PolyEndocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age.  American gynecologists Irving Stein, and Michael Leventhal, first described this disorder in 1935 as a rare disorder; In the 87 years since then scientists are only just beginning to understand this syndrome.  Today it is estimated that PMOS affects roughly 10 percent of women in the United States (around 5 million women)*. PMOS was generally thought of as an infertility disorder or a cosmetic annoyance. It is true that PMOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility and can cause an excessive amount of hair growth (or loss), but it doesn’t stop there. It is now known that PMOS is also a metabolic disorder that can have serious long-term health concerns.

According to a study published in the Endocrine Society’s March 2015 issue of Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, women diagnosed with PMOS are twice as likely to be hospitalized for

●      Heart disease - women with PMOS are at a higher risk, and risk increases with age.

●      Diabetes - more than half of women with PMOS develop type 2 diabetes by age 40.

○      Gestational diabetes(diabetes when pregnant) - which puts the pregnancy and baby at risk and can lead to type 2 diabetes later in life for both mother and child.

●      Mental-health conditions - on a chemical level

●      reproductive disorders

●      and cancer of the uterine lining

●      (cited from PCOS the Atlantic Health - Sydney Parker June 26, 2015).

Other serious health problems include

●      High blood pressure - which can damage the heart, brain, and kidneys.

●      High LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and low HDL (”good”) cholesterol - increasing the risk for heart disease

●      Sleep apnea - a disorder that causes breathing to stop during sleep and raises the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

●      Stroke - plaque (cholesterol and white blood cells) clogging blood vessels can lead to blood clots that in turn can cause a stroke.

●      (cited from cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/pcos)

WHAT CAUSES PCOS?

●      There is no definitive cause of PMOS, there is a strong link to insulin resistance, a genetic condition often associated with diabetes, in which the muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin and thus cannot easily absorb glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream. As a result, the body produces higher and higher levels of insulin to help glucose enter the cells. 

●      (cited from PCOS the Atlantic Health - Sydney Parker June 26, 2015).

●      Women with PMOS also have higher levels of androgens (male hormones that females also have), which can stop eggs from being released (ovulation) and cause irregular periods, acne, thinning scalp hair, and excess hair growth on the face and body. This can have a significant impact on the mental health of women on both a situational and chemical level.

●      Weight - Does being overweight cause PMOS? Does PMOS make you overweight? The relationship is complicated and not well understood. Being overweight is associated with PMOS, but many women of “normal” weight have PMOSP, and many overweight women don’t.

●      Family History - women whose mother or sister has PMOS or type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop PMOS.

●      (cited from cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/pcos)

Until there is a better understanding of PMOS women need to be their own advocate

●      Connect with other women with PMOS

●      Find a support group

●      Consult with a reproductive endocrinologist or gynecologist.

Laser Goddess has been treating women with this condition since 1997. Our experience with laser hair removal results and PMOS is variable. Most clients are happy with their results. The burden of constant tweezing or waiting for hair to grow in so they can thread or wax is damaging to their self-esteem.  While women the PMOS may get more regrowth after a series of treatments compared to other women their age, it still makes the condition far more manageable.

In the case of intractable (will not improve) growth on their face, this is when the same amount of hair grows back and does not change we may recommend electrolysis. Most often this type of intractable growth is related to consistently higher testosterone levels (androgens), in that case your doctor usually prescribes birth control pills or spironolactone. Sometimes this condition of hirsutism Both of these medications help suppress the over production of testosterone. If the person cannot take these medications, they may need electrolysis. Some people prefer to continue with laser as they find electrolysis to be too painful.

Unlike waxing, threading or electrolysis. You can trim or shave the hair in between treatments. Makeup can be applied the next day after laser hair removal. Most clients are thrilled even after their first treatment. It may be the first time their skin was smooth for a few weeks. Unlike waxing and threading, laser treats hair that is under the skin and has not grown in yet, extending the time between treatments much further than it would be with the other methods.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.