“What happens if PCOS is left untreated?”
I am a 25 year old female and I was diagnosed with PCOS. What happens if PCOS is left untreated?
6 Answers
Irregular menses & difficulty getting pregnant can happen. All this can be managed. It can cause a thickening of the uterine lining & could predispose to early endometrial cancer. Again you should be followed by a physician
PCOS if untreated may lead to metabolic changes that predispose to diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer later in life. Most women who develop uterine cancer at a young age (less than 40 years) have PCOS. Weight gain, excess hair growth, and difficulty getting pregnant are often the reasons young women seek treatment.
If women are not getting regular periods, it can lead to an increased risk of pre-cancer or cancer of the uterus. You should have a period at least every 3 months either naturally or with medicines
PCOS is very complicated. If left untreated it increases the risk of endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial carcinoma. There are some effects on the entire body but most commonly women have irregular periods, trouble getting pregnant, abnormal hair growth, trouble losing weight and skin color changes.
There is often a wide ranging progression of problems with increasing severity that starts with increasing weight gain, oily skin, acne, and hirsuitism. There is also menstrual irregularity, abnormal bleeding and infertility. Finally, there is the development of diabetes, and sometimes uterine cancer, requiring a hysterectomy. The condition can be mild or severe, but without some intervention, the risks are significant. You can do a lot just with diet and exercise to begin.
Although there is no cure, it's important to treat all the possible symptoms, focus on helping prevent any potential problems. Losing weight is one of the most important factors to at least balance the hormone levels.
