Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS)

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a hormonal disorder. It is caused by a hormone imbalance in the brain and ovaries. What causes the imbalance is not known.

Normally, the ovaries make estrogens and progesterone, which are female hormones. The ovaries also make some androgens, which are male hormones. In PCOS, the ovaries produce too many androgens. This creates a hormonal imbalance, which can have wide-ranging effects on the body. These effects can be mild or severe.

PCOS affects about 1 of every 10 women.

Like any chronic illness, PCOS will affect your life in some way. But if you take care of your body and follow the treatments your doctor recommends, PCOS may become a very minor nuisance. Other people may not even notice it.

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome.

"Polycystic" means "many cysts."

Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS)

The ovaries produce tiny fluid-filled sacs that hold the ova, or eggs. These sacs are called follicles or cysts. In women with PCOS, the follicles do not release the eggs properly and they grow into multiple small cysts.

The ovaries produce tiny fluid-filled sacs that hold the ova (eggs). These sacs are called follicles or cysts. Each month during a woman’s cycle, a mature follicle containing an egg bursts and the egg is released. This process is called ovulation.

In women with PCOS, the brain does not send a hormone message to the ovary to help mature and release eggs. Because of this, ovulation may only happen sometimes or not at all. Instead of bursting, the follicles grow into many small cysts in the ovaries.

Symptoms of PCOS often start when a girl should be having her first period

PCOS is usually first noticed around the time when a girl should be having her first menstrual period. Because of the extra androgens, women with PCOS may have few or no periods.

Other possible symptoms of PCOS include the following:

• unusual hair growth on the face and body
• trouble keeping a healthy weight
• acne
• ovaries that have many small cysts (polycystic ovaries)
• increased blood fat (lipid) levels
• increased insulin or glucose levels
• increased androgens in the blood

Not all women will have all these symptoms.

PCOS is diagnosed with a patient history, examination, and blood tests

There is no one test for PCOS. The doctor will ask you questions about these things:

• your period
• hair and skin problems
• unexplained weight gain
• what your health has been like in the past (your medical history)

The doctor or a nurse will measure your weight, height, and blood pressure.

They will take a blood sample. Your blood will be tested for insulin, hormone, and glucose levels.

The doctor may also do an ultrasound scan of the ovaries to look for cysts.

PCOS can be managed and its effects on the body can be reduced

There is no cure for PCOS. But it can be treated and managed. Treating PCOS is important for two reasons:

Appearance

Many young women with PCOS are worried about the disorder’s effect on how they look. This is understandable. Treating PCOS will reduce the effect on your appearance. This will help you feel better about yourself.

Long term health

If it is not treated, PCOS raises the risk of other health problems. These health problems include the following:

• heart disease
• diabetes
• obesity
• cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer)
• infertility (trouble getting pregnant)

Treating PCOS

How your PCOS is treated is based on your symptoms.

Because PCOS often causes weight gain, you should eat a healthy diet. You should also exercise every day.

Treatment with hormones

PCOS is a hormone imbalance, so part of your treatment is trying to restore that balance. There are two ways to do this:

• Increase the level of female hormone.
• Decrease the effect of the elevated male hormone.

To increase the level of female hormones, your doctor may prescribe birth control pills. Birth control pills will have these effects:

• They help make your periods more regular.
• They will likely improve acne and reduce hair growth on the face and body.
• They will lower the risk of endometrial cancer.

To reduce the effect of male hormones, your doctor may prescribe medicines called anti-androgens. Anti-androgens have these effects:

• They block the action of male hormones.
• They will reduce unwanted hair growth and acne.

One common anti-androgen is called spironolactone. If you are taking it, you will probably take birth control pills as well. Some birth control pills have both anti-androgens and female hormones.

If you have diabetes caused by PCOS, you will need to be treated for diabetes as well.

Removing unwanted hair

A proper hormone balance will help stop the growth of unwanted hair. It will not help get rid of existing hair. But there are ways to get rid of existing hair. Ask your doctor.

PCOS and getting pregnant

Many women with PCOS have trouble getting pregnant. Others have no trouble. One symptom of PCOS may be the growth of cysts on your ovaries. But women with PCOS usually have a normal uterus and normal eggs.

If you want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor. There are treatments that can help improve your chances.

Key points

• PCOS is a hormone imbalance that affects some women.
• Symptoms of PCOS include irregular or no menstrual periods.
• Other symptoms include weight gain, unwanted hair growth, and acne.
• PCOS is usually treated with hormones. These will reduce the effect of the disorder both on your appearance and on the body.
• If it is not treated, PCOS can lead to infertility, heart disease, and endometrial cancer.

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