Can PCOS cause severe depression?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormone imbalance that causes infertility, obesity, and excessive facial hair in women, can also lead to severe mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.

Can I take antidepressants with PCOS?

Antidepressants may, therefore, be effective in women with PCOS who do not have depression or allied mood disorders and are not obese or overweight.

Does PCOS make anxiety worse?

PCOS itself is known to cause stress, particularly over the physical symptoms of the condition, such as excessive facial and body hair. This stress can lead to anxiety and depression. It’s more likely to affect younger women with PCOS.

Can PCOS cause mental health issues?

Conclusions: PCOS is associated with an increased risk of diagnosis of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder. It is associated with worse symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD, and somatization. Screening for these disorders to allow early intervention may be warranted.

How do I know if my PCOS is cured?

There is currently no cure for PCOS, and it does not go away on its own. Even after menopause, women with PCOS often continue to have high levels of androgens as well as insulin resistance. This means that the health risks associated with PCOS are lifelong.

How to treat anxiety and depression in PCOS patients?

Therefore, in addition to established treatment options, treatment of PCOS-related symptoms with lifestyle modification and/or oral contraceptive pills may be of benefit. Screening for anxiety and depression is recommended in women with PCOS at the time of diagnosis. The exact etiology for the increased risk in PCOS is still unclear.

Can a diet help with the symptoms of PCOS?

Putting two and two together here, since our insulin levels are controlled by what we eat, if we can implement the right diet for PCOS and eat in a way that keeps our insulin levels lower, our PCOS symptoms can improve. I’ve been amazed by how quickly this effect can be seen when hearing from women who do my free 30-Day PCOS Diet Challenge.

What are the symptoms of PCOS in women?

Yet despite this, we still don’t know exactly what causes the condition, and its potentially debilitating symptoms. Women can experience distressing symptoms, including reduced fertility, excessive facial or body hair, weight gain, hair loss and acne.

Are there support groups for people with PCOS?

Many hospitals and nonprofits also offer support groups for depression and anxiety. Some may even have PCOS support groups. Online support groups or providers are also good options if you can’t find any in your area. PCOS and depression often go together.