Can you be skinny and have PCOS? – The answer to this question is yes! But, of course, you can be underweight yet have the disorder. This type of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is lean PCOS. For the unversed, polycystic ovary condition is a common hormonal disorder that causes multiple cysts in your ovaries. This disorder affects women who are in their reproduction years, wherever between 15-45 years of age.
More often than not, PCOS is related to overweight women. However, the cases of lean PCOS are unceasingly increasing. Why is that so?
Additionally, irregular periods, lack of ovulation or late ovulation, increased facial hair, problems in conceiving, insulin resistance, anxiety, and acne, are some indications both kinds of dramatic roles go through.
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So What is Careful Lean?
Can you be skinny and have PCOS? – Lean, in this case, mentions a healthy BMI or body mass index. The healthy BMI varies from 18 to 24.9. Therefore, women with lean PCOS have a well BMI, unlike females who are overweight with PCOS.
How Mutual is it to be Lean and Still Consume PCOS?
Most females think that overweightness and PCOS have many elements in common. However, one out of three females with PCOS is not overweight or obese. Despite having a normal BMI, women with lean PCOS may struggle with irregular periods, fertility problems, blood sugar control, and other indications like acne and oily skin. So, it is just another misconception that females with PCOS are overweight.
But “lean” doesn’t mean better. Having lean PCOS makes it harder to identify, even though it causes many of the same long-term health problems as other kinds of PCOS. So if you have an irregular period and are curious about if you could have PCOS despite a BMI within a healthy range, know that it’s possible.
Why is Weight Management with PCOS so Tricky?
A significant challenge with PCOS is that our body is most resistant to Insulin for most of us. “Insulin is a hormone which remains shaped by the pancreas. It benefits converting sugar and starch (from the food we eat) into energy. PCOS makes it more problematic for the body to use the hormone insulin (referred to as insulin resistance). As a result of this unchanged sugar, the pancreas produces more Insulin to try and maintain normal sugar levels. High amounts of Insulin can cause induction and accelerate the production of the male hormones (androgens), leading to weight gain and many other symptoms of PCOS.”
Also, women with PCOS are at a high risk of developing many weight gains and insulin resistance problems, like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
Is it Difficult for Females with Lean PCOS to get Pregnant?
Can you be skinny and have PCOS? – Females with PCOS often find it hard to conceive. The hormonal imbalance prevents the average cyclical growth and release of a mature egg (anovulatory infertility). However, having PCOS does not mean that pregnancy is impossible. PCOS is one of the most common treatable reasons for infertility.
Are Obese Women more Prone to Infertility? An Expert Tells you About it
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other national and international bodies, obesity is a chronic disorder. If your body mass index (BMI) is 25 kg/m2 or greater, you fall under the overweight category and greater than 30 term obesity.
The incidence of obesity in India is 40 percent, the highest in the southern part of country and the lowest in the east. It is higher among women than men and more commonly seen in urban settings than rural ones. Furthermore, it is observed more among those who educate, aging, and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. It can also be caused due to a lack of physical activity and disturbed eating patterns and habits. Stress also contributes to obesity.
Excess weight leads to multiple adverse health consequences and significantly impacts fertility. The process is complex and multifactorial.
How do you Diagnose Lean PCOS?
However, there are different ways to diagnose PCOS by various expert groups. Usually, the diagnosis remains based on high androgen levels in the blood and menstrual cycle issues. In addition, some experts suggest that an ultrasound showing many cysts on the ovaries (polycystic ovaries) should also consider as part of the diagnosis, but this isn’t always necessary.
Sometimes other hormone disorders, like hypoactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or Cushing’s disease, can appear similar to PCOS. Your healthcare earner will check for those, too, with a simple lab test.
Also Read: Skincare Tips to Get Radiant Glow On Healthy-Looking Skin