Irregular Periods May Signal Serious Problems

Women who have irregular periods should be checked for a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Not only is a woman with the condition at a higher risk for heart disease, new research shows she's also at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes.

Diane Luther discovered she had polycystic ovarian syndrome when she tried to get pregnant.

"I didn't have a period for a year. Something was probably wrong, then I sought medical attention," Luther said.

According to Dr. Kimberly Turner of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, PCOS is a syndrome that causes a hormonal imbalance, which can cause not only infertility but also weight gain, acne, excessive facial hair, high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.

Now PCOS is also linked to insulin resistance and, therefore, type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes educator Paula Yutzy said women with PCOS should be tested for diabetes.

"Insulin resistance is a major cause of PCOS," Yutzy said.

And don't think PCOS happens only to adult women. Teenage girls can also have it.