Myth 1: polycystic ovarian syndrome means you must have to have multiple ovarian cysts.
Fact: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a misnomer. In some women with PCOS, their ovaries don’t have multiple cysts. Actually, the condition is a reproductive metabolic syndrome. In other words, the reproductive and metabolic abnormalities are the hallmarks of the condition. A woman who develops PCOS should fulfill two of the three conditions: irregular menstruation; androgen excess (hair loss, acne and hirsutism); multiple cysts.
Myth 2: Abnormal hair growth in women is the telltale sign of PCOS.
Fact: Though hirsutism is a common symptom of PCOS, it is not always the case with every woman who develops PCOS. Women get unwanted hair on their chin, upper lip or chest due to excess androgens, but not every woman will have this symptom.
Myth 3: A woman with PCOS cannot get pregnant
Fact: One of the common causes of infertility in woman is PCOS. A woman’s ability to release an egg for fertilization and pregnancy gets compromised due to PCOS. But, a woman with PCOS can still get pregnant
Myth 4: Every woman with PCOS is overweight or obese
Fact: This is a common myth as many people consider a stereotypical overweight woman or an image of a bearded fat lady with PCOS. It is not always true with every woman with PCOS because the condition affects women in different ways. Lean women with PCOS also exist.
Myth 5: If you have irregular menses, you have PCOS
Fact: Irregular menses can be due to several other causes, and PCOS is only one of them. Irregular periods can also be due to uterine fibroids, polyps, extreme dieting, overexercising and pelvic inflammatory disease, thyroid disorders and others.
Uterine Fibroids Myths & Facts
Myth 1: Hysterectomy is the only one best treatment that works for uterine fibroids.
Fact: This is not true. There are several other less invasive and minimally invasive treatment approaches that work best – for instance uterine artery embolization and myomectomy.
Myth2: You cannot get pregnant if you have uterine fibroids
Fact: Though fibroids can make pregnancy difficult but not impossible – advanced treatment techniques can work best.
Myth 3: All fibroids cause pain
Fact: It is not true because many women with fibroids don’t experience any symptoms al all. They often come to know about their condition only when their gynecologists notice them during pelvic examination.
Myth 4: A fibroid tumor is cancerous
Fact: This myth is quite reasonable to believe as uterine fibroids are tumors – and many women therefore assume that fibroids are cancerous. While, almost all or a majority of fibroids are benign (noncancerous), in very rare cases, a fibroid can turn cancerous. Having fibroids doesn’t raise the risk of developing cancer either.
Endometriosis Myths & Facts
Myth 1: Endometriosis is always painful
Fact: This is not always true because in many cases, the problem goes unnoticed until a gynecologist who is investigating the cause of infertility detects endometriosis. Every woman with endometriosis doesn’t experience pain.
Myth 2: You can prevent endometriosis
Fact: There is no known or clearly understood cause for endometriosis. Owing to this reason, there is no known way to prevent endometriosis. However, estrogen can trigger the growth and amplify the symptoms of endometriosis. You can manage estrogen levels and lower them by controlling your weight, exercising and adopting lower-estrogen birth control method.
Myth 3: Endometriosis symptoms improve after menopause
Fact: This is not true. In some women, the symptoms last even after the monthly cycles end. Post-menopausal women continue to experience pain. In some women, the symptoms tend to improve following menopause, but do not offer complete relief as such.
