Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of female infertility and one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting as many as 10 percent of women of reproductive age. The syndrome occurs when your ovaries develop many fluid-filled sacs or cysts instead of healthy eggs. As a result, you may have irregular menstrual periods and difficulty getting pregnant. 



Other symptoms include weight gain, acne, male-pattern hair growth and high blood pressure. While not everyone with PCOS has all these symptoms, those who do will often experience more than one of them at a time.


Causes

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries to produce small cysts. The condition is characterized by polycystic ovaries (hence its name), irregular menstrual cycles, and high levels of male hormones. Menstrual cycles may be longer or shorter than expected, with heavy periods (menorrhagia) occurring in some women. 

Women with PCOS also often have acne, dark patches of skin on their face and body (acanthosis nigricans), thinning hair on their head, excess hair growth on their face and body (hirsutism), infertility, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus , heart disease , and high blood pressure . Women with PCOS are also at increased risk for developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease .


Diagnosis

Many women don’t know they have PCOS until symptoms appear. Because of its elusive nature, diagnosing PCOS can be difficult. The symptoms are similar to other conditions, so it can often be misdiagnosed as thyroid disease, luteal phase defect or even premature ovarian failure (premature menopause). 

It is estimated that up to 75 percent of women with PCOS go undiagnosed for years. A simple blood test can confirm a diagnosis of PCOS. If you suspect you may have PCOS, talk to your doctor about getting tested. 


Treatments

First, it’s important to know that PCOS is a syndrome , which means there is no one cause of PCOS. Women with PCOS are simply women who have many of these symptoms: irregular periods, infertility, excess hair growth on their face or body (not just in normal places like their head or legs), weight gain around their abdomen and difficulty losing weight. However, each woman will experience different symptoms. Some women may not even have any symptoms at all. There is no cure for PCOS but there are treatments available that can help control your symptoms. The treatment you choose depends on how severe your symptoms are and what type of impact they’re having on your life.


Conclusion

The goal of PCOS treatment is to control your symptoms, prevent any long-term damage, get your periods back on track, and help you conceive if you desire pregnancy. With PCOS treatment options ranging from lifestyle modifications to prescription medications to weight loss surgery, there’s no reason for women with PCOS to suffer in silence or live a life devoid of all that life has to offer. If you think you may have PCOS, schedule an appointment with your doctor today. It could change your life!