Does your battle with PCOS end at your Menopause?

When I say I suffer from PCOS, it's assumed the major problem I face is just that I don't get my period on time. But it's not as simple as that. 

It's important to understand why this happens in the first place and the answer eventually lies in hormones and insulin resistance. Now, by an extension of that, these two may not be functioning as desired in my body at the moment, but I might still be getting my period on time — since periods are affected by a lot of different factors other than PCOS. And it may be incorrect to assume that PCOS is definitely at bay. 

So, if periods are not the only ones that okay a role in PCOS, what happens after menopause then? No periods, no trouble? Unfortunately not. PCOS patients will still have issues with hormones and insulin resistance. While periods are greatly affected by it, they are still separate functions of the body. And an end to them doesn't mean the PCOS has ended too. It just means that it won't show up in the symptoms it used to. But it still does manifest differently. In fact, the metabolic and cardiovascular risks associated with PCOS can persist or even worsen after menopause, especially the following:  

• Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes 

• Stroke 

• Heart attack 

• High blood pressure 

• Metabolic syndrome 

• Weight gain, specifically increased visceral adiposity (belly fat) 

• High cholesterol, specifically elevated LDL and triglyceride levels 

To make it just slightly worse, women with PCOS may even experience later menopause sometimes, by 2 to 5 years. And they may have more successful fertility later in life than usual because they experience a slower decline in age-related fertility. 

Don’t panic though. This sounds a bit like when you google your symptoms and its cancer every time. It's kind of bittersweet that the solution to this remains the same — healthy food, regular exercise, sleep and good mental health. And of course, to keep your doctor in loop of everything that is happening with your health, since it might be tricky to distinguish the symptoms of PCOS and premenopause. 

It's so easy to think that this problem lies in the future and that you're too young for it. I think like that so many times, it’s comforting. I know I'd not need to deal with it any time soon but it helps to still stay aware and know what's coming my way so I can be fully prepared when the time arises. 

Despite that, I often feel helpless thinking about how strange it is to have this lifelong situation that I'll have to keep managing. But somewhere, I'm also glad that I know better now than when I was first diagnosed with it. That makes it simpler. 

Rather than letting this inflict stress or worry on me, I try using it as a shield to combat the future. Some days it works, and some days it doesn't. Either way, I try again the next day.