PCOS and other health conditions

Insulin resistance affects between 44% and 85% of women with PCOS. It’s involved in many aspects of PCOS. Insulin resistance may be a co-occurring condition, a cause of PCOS or a result of PCOS.

Women with PCOS are more likely to have problems with glucose tolerance and develop type 2 diabetes, regardless of their age and body mass index (BMI).

Women with type 1 and 2 diabetes also have a higher risk of PCOS.

Women with PCOS may have:

• higher weight
• glucose intolerance
• hypertension
• diabetes
• metabolic syndrome.

This can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

A heavier weight, having infrequent periods and type 2 diabetes are all linked to endometrial cancer risk. They are also commonly associated with PCOS.

Women with PCOS are almost 10 times more likely to have sleep apnoea than women without PCOS. A heavier weight and disrupted hormonal systems may contribute to sleep apnoea.

Women with PCOS are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and negative body image. This may be due to physical symptoms of PCOS, for example, excess hair and weight. In some cases, mental health can worsen with the use of certain hormone medicines.

Psychological conditions can make it hard for women to follow a healthy lifestyle plan and self-manage symptoms of PCOS.

Women with PCOS are more likely to have risk factors for eating disorders, including:

• higher weight
• depression
• anxiety
• low self-esteem
• poor body image.

Disordered eating, for example, binge eating, are more common in women with PCOS, but they often go undiagnosed.