Diseases of Civilization - PCOS

    I am going to write about polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, because I recently found out that I have PCOS. If you don’t know what PCOS is, it is a hormonal imbalance in women and named after the many cysts that form in the ovaries to cause this imbalance or as a result of this imbalance. It is characterized by higher levels than normal of testosterone, irregular periods, hirsutism, weight gain, balding, and acne. The exact cause is unknown. Insulin resistance is associated with PCOS and could be either/both the cause or result of the syndrome, and genes could be a potential factor. In my Human Body class today, we literally discussed endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) that are ubiquitous in our world, so EDCs could also be a major factor. From my online investigations, it seems that PCOS is not actually a disease of civilization but an ancient disease, but the negative effects of the syndrome are exacerbated by the current environments. 

There is evidence that PCOS existed in Ancient times. Apparently, Hippocrates noted that there were women who had irregular periods, were robust, had masculine appearances, and did not become pregnant. Oh, and fertility issues are also associated with PCOS as well. The same source cites other ancient sources and argues that PCOS seemed common. The rate of PCOS seems similar across countries, regardless of obesity rates, so weight does not seem to necessarily be the cause. Researchers have also discovered that racial diversity occurred after the appearance of PCOS genotypes. We recently learned about the African replacement theory in which ancestors of humans originated and migrated out of Africa, so the appearance of PCOS likely originated here as well. 

Researchers postulate that there are several reasons why PCOS was relatively common in ancient times and continue to persist. They think it allowed them greater energy storage which helped during times of food deprivation. Additionally, women with PCOS have greater muscle strength and greater bone mineral density, which would have been very advantageous for the physical demands of the ancient world. Though problems with fertility are associated with the syndrome, women can still become pregnant. However, it probably takes longer to conceive than ‘healthy’ individuals, but this allowed nomad mothers to focus on less young children at one time and space out childbirth. Less children meant more resources and food per kid. Less childbirth also meant lower rates of death related to childbirth. These advantages likely contribute to the continued prevalence of PCOS. 

Although PCOS is an ancient disease, it is greatly affected by the human behaviors and practices today. As I mentioned, insulin resistance is associated with PCOS, so people with this condition have a higher chance of developing diabetes. This likelihood is compounded by the fact that the food available in today’s society is high in sugar and carbohydrates and not necessarily healthy. In today’s world, people in developed countries have an abundance of food unlike the ancient past. Heart disease and cancer are also related. These are definitely a result of the disease of civilization.


Sources

Azziz, R., Dumesic, D. A., & Goodarzi, M. O. (2011). Polycystic ovary syndrome: an ancient disorder?. Fertility and sterility, 95(5), 1544–1548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.09.032

Heathline - "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment" - X

Kogure, G. S., Silva, R. C., Picchi Ramos, F. K., Miranda-Furtado, C. L., Lara, L. A., Ferriani, R. A., & Dos Reis, R. M. (2015). Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have greater muscle strength irrespective of body composition. Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, 31(3), 237–242. https://doi.org/10.3109/09513590.2014.982083

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