Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects many women during their reproductive years, typically between the ages of 15-45. However, there is limited information on how PCOS affects women in their elderly years, specifically those over the age of 65 -a population that often receives a lower priority within health care guidelines; therefore little is known about how aging may affect management options for this patient population and the health implications of an untreated condition such as undiagnosed or untreated PCOS in this age grouping of women. As women age, their hormonal levels naturally decrease, particularly estrogen and progesterone.
This decrease in hormones can affect the manifestation of PCOS symptoms. Other complications caused by hormone imbalance in older women include increased health risks for conditions such as diabetes due to insulin resistance found in middle-aged women with poly cystics ovaries or other associated endocrine disorders as well as increased risk of endometrial cancer in women with increased levels of testosterone whose bodies do not respond to an increase in insulin appropriately anymore which may lead to endometrial hyperplasia. PCOS can affect elderly women, and there are several unique concerns that must be considered.
Since women have altered hormone levels with the onset of menopause as they get older it is more likely that an elderly woman has a slight androgen excess compared to young women of the same age range who are less effected by these changes and thus are less likely to have hirsutism or amenorrhea issues associated with this condition.
Diagnosis of PCOS in elderly women can be difficult, as many of the symptoms associated with PCOS, such as irregular periods, are common in women who have already gone through menopause. If you think your mother might have the symptoms of the syndrome you’re likely to want to educate yourself about how to properly diagnose and treat it as well as whom you should talk to about it when you bring up the subject with her doctor but remember that the only way to be sure is to have a doctor directly diagnose her with the condition and give his or her advice on how you should go about treating the symptoms.
Remember that when it comes to the elderly, it is always important to keep a close eye on them, it’s the only way of keeping their health in check. A senior should always be looked after by a family member or a care professional from facilities like www.carltonseniorliving.com/community/pleasant-hill-dedicated-memory-care/ to ensure that they live their life to the fullest as healthy as possible for as long as she can!.