If you have been diagnosed with PCOS, you are at greater risk of developing the long-term health problems discussed below.
We recommend regular health checks if you have PCOS. Continue reading to find out more.
Insulin resistance and diabetes
If your blood glucose does not stay normal, this can lead to diabetes. One or two in every ten women with PCOS go on to develop diabetes at some point. If the diabetes is untreated, this can cause damage to organs in the body.
If you have PCOS, your risk of developing diabetes is increased further if you:
- are over 40 years of age
- have relatives with diabetes
- developed diabetes during a pregnancy (known as gestational diabetes)
- are obese (a body mass index (BMI) of over 30).
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you will be given advice about your diet and may be prescribed tablets or insulin injections.
High blood pressure
Women with PCOS tend to have high blood pressure, which is likely to be related to insulin resistance and to being overweight rather than to the PCOS itself. High blood pressure and raised cholesterol can lead to heart problems and should be treated.
What can I do to reduce long-term health risks?
Have a healthy lifestyle
The main ways to reduce your overall risk of long-term health problems are to:
- eat a healthy balanced diet. This should include fruit and vegetables and whole foods (such as wholemeal bread, whole-grain cereals, brown rice and whole-wheat pasta), lean meat, fish and chicken. You should cut down the amount of sugar, salt and caffeine that you eat and drink. You should not drink more alcohol than is recommended (14 units a week for women).
- eat meals regularly, especially breakfast
- take exercise regularly (30 minutes at least three times a week).
- Stop smoking
Your GP or practice nurse can provide you with full information on eating a healthy diet and exercise. You GP, practice nurse or local pharmacist can advise regarding smoking cessation.
You should aim to keep your weight to a level that is normal. BMI is the measurement of weight in relation to height and you should aim to keep your BMI between 19 and 25. To calculate your BMI, follow this link:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/
If you are overweight, it would be helpful to lose weight and maintain your weight at this new level. If your BMI is more than 30, discuss ways of losing weight with your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist.
The benefits of losing weight include:
- a lower risk of insulin resistance and developing diabetes
- a lower risk of heart problems
- a lower risk of cancer of the womb
- more regular periods
- an increased chance of becoming pregnant
- a reduction in acne and a decrease in excess hair growth over time
- improved mood and self-esteem.
You only have to lose a small amount of weight to make a difference to your symptoms and your health.
There is no strong evidence that PCOS by itself can cause you to gain weight or makes losing weight difficult. Many women find great benefit from support groups such as Verity (www.verity-pcos.org.uk).
Have regular health checks
Once you have a diagnosis of PCOS, it is advised to be monitored at least every 2 years to check for any early signs of health problems:
- Diabetes: Women with PCOS aged under the age of 40 should have a blood sugar test every 2 years to check for signs of diabetes. If older than 40 years you should have a blood sugar test done once a year. If your BMI is 30 or over or you have a family history of diabetes, you may be offered testing for diabetes earlier than age 40.
- High blood pressure: Discuss with your doctor how often you should have your blood pressure checked and whether you should have blood tests to check your cholesterol levels.
To have a health check
Please contact the surgery and book an appointment with the health care assistant to have your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels checked. There is no need to fast for these blood tests.
Please state on the phone you wish to have “a PCOS screening appointment”.
You will be contacted with the results at a later date to discuss if further action is required. If all is normal you will not be contacted and should have these tests repeated every 2 years.
If you think you may have PCOS but have never been diagnosed by a Doctor and wish to discuss this please submit and eConsult regarding this detailing your symptoms and concerns.
Further information:
