Experiencing irregular periods can be frustrating and worrying. You might wonder why your menstrual cycle is so unpredictable: Is it stress? Diet? Or could it be a more complex underlying condition, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?
At his practice in Queens and White Plains, New York, board-certified OB/GYN Daniel S. Kushner, MD, and our team are here to provide personalized care and help you get to the bottom of what’s causing your menstrual irregularities.
Dr. Kushner specializes in diagnosing and managing conditions like PCOS to help you experience better reproductive health. Here, we provide more detail about PCOS and whether it could be the reason you have irregular periods.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects women in their reproductive years. It’s characterized by a range of symptoms, including irregular menstrual cycles, excessive hair growth, acne, and obesity.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it's linked to an imbalance in reproductive hormones, which can lead to the development of small cysts on the ovaries. Women with PCOS usually have elevated levels of androgens (male hormones).
Excess male hormones can interfere with your normal menstrual cycle and ovulation. As a result of the hormonal imbalance, it can be challenging to predict when your next period will arrive or how heavy it will be.
The irregular periods associated with PCOS are linked to the disruption the condition causes in your normal ovulation. Here’s a closer look at how PCOS can affect your menstrual cycle.
PCOS can stop your ovaries from releasing an egg regularly. Without regular ovulation, your menstrual cycle can become erratic or even stop altogether. This irregular ovulation is a key reason for why so many women with PCOS have unpredictable periods.
The hormone imbalance caused by PCOS affects your production of estrogen and progesterone, the hormones responsible for regulating your menstrual cycle. When these hormones are out of balance, your cycle can become irregular, leading to missed periods or unusually heavy or light bleeding.
When ovulation doesn’t happen, the endometrial lining of your uterus doesn’t shed as it should. This results in a thickened lining, which can lead to heavy bleeding when you do get your period. In addition to irregular periods, you may also experience periods that are especially painful and uncomfortable.
In addition to irregular periods, PCOS can cause a variety of symptoms that can affect your overall health and quality of life. These include:
The best way to learn if you have PCOS is by seeing an OB/GYN like Dr. Kushner, who specializes in the condition.
Diagnosing PCOS usually involves a combination of reviewing your medical history, having physical examination, and undergoing tests like lab work to check hormone levels and imaging studies to check for cysts, a key indicator of PCOS.
Yes! Our team understands the complexities of PCOS and the way it affects your health and daily life. We offer personalized care and effective treatments to help you manage PCOS and improve your quality of life.
Dr. Kushner creates a personalized PCOS plan, which may include:
If you’re worried that PCOS could be the cause of your irregular periods, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kushner in Queens or White Plains, New York.
