Calling all mothers of daughters!
Did you know that your daughter has a 10% chance (or greater!) of experiencing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? And that it is highly unlikely that she will be properly screened, diagnosed and treated?
Untreated, PCOS can lead to mammary organ dysfunction and failure (MODF). Which means that not only will your grandchild likely need infant formula in addition to, or instead of, breastmilk, but also that your daughter will not have the luxury of deciding for herself whether or not to exclusively breastfeed. That decision will have been made for her, without her knowledge, a decade or two before she ever decided to have a child.
That is the bad news. The good news is that you can do something about it. First, let’s break down the “what” and “how” of PCOS:
What is PCOS?
PCOS is less a disease and more a disease process characterized by polycystic ovaries, infrequent or lack of ovulation, and a high level of androgens. You can think of androgens as “male” hormones; as a result of increased androgen levels, women with PCOS often have excess body hair or even male-patterned baldness. In addition, many women with PCOS will have too much insulin in their blood, which then leads to insulin-resistance and weight gain.
What causes PCOS?
The jury is still out on this one, although theories include hormone-disrupting chemicals in our environment, genetics, and obesity. However, it’s important to remember that PCOS does not necessarily have one cause. A variety of factors (genes, weight, environment) can contribute to the incidence and severity of the syndrome.
How can PCOS lead to MODF?
PCOS often begins in adolescence, which is also the time when a girl’s mammary organ begins one of its most important stages of development. During puberty, estrogen secreted by a girl’s ovaries will guide the creation of the ductal network. This intricate series of canals throughout the breast will be the same system that brings milk from her breast into your grandchild’s (!) mouth. When a teenage girl suffers from PCOS, her breasts are trying real hard to listen to the estrogen saying, “Build those milk ducts!” Unfortunately, the androgens are louder and more powerful, shouting “Forget those milk ducts!” And so when it comes time to give birth and feed her baby, unbeknownst to her, there might not be enough milk ducts to foster successful exclusive breastfeeding.
Won’t her breasts be small without all those ducts?
Not necessarily! Even though estrogen isn’t building an ideal ductal network, adipose tissue, or fat, can fill out the breasts quite nicely, making everyone think that her breasts are developing beautifully. Those mammary organs of hers will be mostly ornamental, not functional. And no one will ever know.
How do I know my daughter is at risk and will she be screened?
Unfortunately, the likelihood that her pediatrician or gynecologist picks up on this syndrome is pretty slim. Shockingly, this disorder affects anywhere from 10-20% of women and goes undiagnosed in approximately 70% of the population. That is not a pretty picture, but there IS something you can do about it!
Once your daughter has entered puberty, be on the lookout for the following symptoms:
*Menstrual irregularity (after menses has been established for 1-2 years)
*Severe Acne
*Excess body hair growth
*Excess weight gain
If your daughter has any of these symptoms, but especially more than one, you might want to ask your pediatrician about checking her androgen levels. Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish normal puberty from PCOS; acne, weight gain and menstrual irregularities are quite common for many teenage girls. I would argue that the ability of PCOS symptoms to mimic those of normal puberty make a compelling case for universal screening of all teenage girls. At the very least, this knowledge should give you even more reason to be vigilant about asking your doctor to screen your daughter.
Even if your daughter’s future breastfeeding relationship isn’t the first thing on your mind, it is important to identify PCOS since it will ALSO increase her risk of the following:
*Depression
*Obesity
*Type 2 Diabetes
*Stroke
*Breast Cancer
I found out my daughter has PCOS! Now what?
Fortunately, there are several effective treatments out there that can help minimize the damage from PCOS on her mammary organ, as well as the rest of her body. The earlier she is diagnosed, the less damage will be done to her body.
Due to a number of factors, the incidence of PCOS in our country will likely continue to rise. Just because our healthcare system is failing to recognize its prevalence and impact does not mean that your daughter has to suffer the consequences. Please share this article with your friends and family, especially those with daughters. The more awareness we bring to this issue, the more lives we can improve.