If you ever thought that the risks associated with PCOS improve once you pass your reproductive age, you are wrong! PCOS is a metabolic disorder and is associated with an increased risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
PCOS is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer. There are also some reports of an increase in ovarian cancer in women with PCOS after menopause. Women with PCOS are also at increased risk of diabetes in pregnancy and type 2 diabetes later in life. Heart disease and fatty liver are also more common in women with PCOS as they age.
To reduce this risk, it is crucial to adopt the following measures:
a) Ensure regular periods: consider using medicines to regularize periods if required
b) Weight loss with lifestyle or medical measures as necessary
c) Manage risk factors that may lead to heart disease.
d) Screen for diseases as recommended by your endocrinologist
Dr. Deepa G, MHSc (Diab), Dip (Diab)