A common hormonal condition that may lead to metabolic and reproductive complications.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex hormonal disorder that’s common in women of reproductive age (typically 15-44 years).
Polycystic ovaries contain many fluid-filled sacs that develop instead of eggs due to hormone-related failed ovulation. It’s a complicated condition of unknown cause with an increased risk related to family history, hormone imbalance, insulin resistance, and obesity. PCOS causes menstrual irregularities and high androgen levels, and may severely affect fertility or pregnancy if untreated.
Polycystic ovary syndrome has no cure, but its symptoms can be addressed through lifestyle modifications and targeted medication. Timely treatment allows most women to conceive and give birth without complications.
Not all women with polycystic ovaries experience symptoms. If they do, they first appear during their late teens or early 20s. Due to fertility and late-life risks associated with PCOS, it’s best to identify it early and treat it appropriately. Look out for these signs:
Infrequent, missed, or light periods
Excess facial or body hair, or thinning hair
Enlarged ovaries
Acne or oily skin
Weight gain
Difficulty getting pregnant
If you experience some of these symptoms simultaneously, please see a specialist as soon as possible.
PCOS is a common cause of infertility, and many women are diagnosed after struggling with getting pregnant. Confirming two out of the syndrome’s three main characteristics (irregular periods, increased male hormones, and an ultrasound showing polycystic ovaries) is enough to be diagnosed after excluding other causes.
Initial treatment for PCOS is to make immediate lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, following a low glycemic index diet, and adding exercise to the daily routine. If necessary, medicine-based treatment is used to target specific symptom causes, like regulating cycles, reducing androgens, and improving ovulation.
Treating polycystic ovary syndrome and monitoring metabolic and reproductive health regularly is highly important. If untreated, PCOS may lead to severe complications such as diabetes, hypertension, infertility, miscarriage, and endometrial hyperplasia.
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