What Is PCOS?
10. Other Health Issues Linked to PCOS
PCOS is not a standalone health problem and often goes hand in hand with other serious conditions. Importantly, in most cases, the full nature of their relationship with PCOS is unknown.
Women with PCOS can exhibit obstructive sleep apnea, which is a sleep disorder that causes episodes of intermittent airflow blockage (apnea/ hypopnea). Patients (or their relatives) with this condition commonly report daytime somnolence and loud snoring during sleep. Since this condition is a risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease, patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea should be screened promptly.
Recall that in PCOS, abnormal hormone levels are present. For instance, there are usually high levels of androgens and certain forms of estrogen, but there are low levels of progesterone. As a result, unopposed estrogen effects can increase the risk of cancer in the inner lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer) in women with PCOS.
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