Polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos)

[Tanya Shivari]

Polycystic ovary syndrome is characterized by slight obesity, irregular or no menstrual periods, and symptoms caused by high levels of male hormones (androgens). It involves disruption of the menstrual cycle and a tendency to have high levels of male hormones (androgens).

Typically, women are obese and develop acne and masculine characteristics—the voice deepens, breast size decreases, and excess body hair appears.
Doctors often base the diagnosis on symptoms, but blood tests to measure hormone levels and ultrasonography may also be done.
Exercise, weight loss, and estrogen plus a progestin or progesterone or a progestin alone may help reduce symptoms (including excess body hair) and restore hormone levels to normal.
If women wish to become pregnant, losing weight and taking clomiphene , sometimes with metformin , may stimulate release of an egg.

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects about 5 to 10% of women. In the United States, it is the most common cause of infertility.
This syndrome gets its name from the many fluid-filled sacs (cysts) that often develop in the ovaries, causing them to enlarge.
In many women with polycystic ovary syndrome, the body’s cells resist the effects of insulin (called insulin resistance or sometimes prediabetes). Insulin helps sugar (glucose) pass into cells so that they can use it for energy. When cells resist its effects, sugar accumulates in the blood, and the pancreas produces more insulin to try to lower sugar levels in the blood. If insulin resistance becomes moderate or severe, diabetes is diagnosed.
If women with polycystic ovary syndrome become pregnant, they have a higher risk of complications during pregnancy. These complications include gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy), preterm delivery, and preeclampsia (a type of high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy). If women with polycystic ovary syndrome are obese, pregnancy complications tend to be even worse.