Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal reproductive problem in women of
childbearing age, and can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin
production, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. Women with PCOS have these characteristics:
- High levels of male hormones, also called androgens
- An irregular or no menstrual cycle
- May or may not have many small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in their ovaries.
No one knows the exact cause of PCOS. Women with PCOS frequently have a mother or sister with PCOS, but there is not yet enough evidence to say there is a genetic link to this disorder. Many women with PCOS have a weight problem, so researchers are looking at the relationship between PCOS and the body’s ability to make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy for the body’s use or for storage. Since some women with PCOS make too much insulin, it’s possible that the ovaries react by making too many male hormones, called androgens. This can lead to acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and ovulation problems.
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Symptoms and detection of PCOS
Signs and diagnosis. -
Therapies
Options and considerations after diagnosis. -
PCOS and other conditions
Impacts on the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
- An estimated five to 10 percent of women of childbearing age have PCOS.
