PCOS Awareness Month sheds light on an incredible cause
The month of September is a bridge from summer to fall. Leaves begin changing color. Temperatures begin to drop. And a crispness returns to the air. Autumn is right around the corner.
It’s a pleasant time of the year.
But the weather isn’t the only reason the 30 days in September are so special. It also calls attention to a condition that impacts many women around the world: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
PCOS is a condition in which the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, male sex hormones that usually occur in women in small amounts. As a result, women can deal with symptoms like infrequent or prolonged menstrual cycles, acne, obesity, and excess hair growth around the body.
The exact cause of PCOS is not known. However, it is the leading cause of infertility among women and a precursor for other serious conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer, and heart disease. It is estimated that between five to 10% of U.S. women of childbearing age have PCOS.
More knowledge and research will help improve the information available about the condition
It’s a serious condition, and that’s why September is so important. PCOS Awareness Month is a federally designated event aimed at improving the lives of those it affects. It’s a platform to help increase awareness of PCOS among the general public. More knowledge and research will help improve the information available about the condition, which in turn should make life easier and better in the future for those PCOS impacts.
While highlighting PCOS is important, it’s also pivotal to know that steps can be taken to alleviate some of its side effects, specific to this blog, the increased hair growth. Many options are out there. Waxing and electrolysis are quite popular, but those options can be rather painful experiences for some.
Since PCOS is a precursor for other conditions, it’s important for those with PCOS to work with their physician to develop a plan to manage the side effects, including excess hair growth.
However, for many dealing with PCOS hair growth, laser hair removal can provide lasting results and is far less painful than waxing and electrolysis. Even if clients are feeling mild discomfort during treatments, steps can be taken to lighten the intensity. Over-the-counter pain medication before treatment is one option, and most lasers have some sort of comfort feature associated with treatment—though some are more sophisticated than others.
The benefits of laser hair removal for those with PCOS go far beyond simply going hair-free. Besides giving women a viable treatment option, for many, the procedure gives them peace of mind as well. That’s because it helps them feel more confident and eliminates the worry and stress associated with using makeup or temporary hair removal methods to manage their unwanted PCOS hair growth.
PCOS Awareness Month began September 1, with World PCOS Day, which was introduced in 2018. It’s a proper start to PCOS Awareness Month, allowing people and organizations to come together to spread knowledge and promote an amazing cause. For more information, please visit pcosawarenessmonth.org or pcosaa.org!