PCOS occurs when certain hormone levels are abnormal.
PCOS can cause irregular menstrual cycles, can make it difficult for a woman to become pregnant, and can cause the ovaries to produce multiple small cysts.
Women with PCOS may also notice difficulty losing weight, excess hair growth (called hirsutism), and pigmentation changes on the skin (dark blotches on the belly or elsewhere on the abdomen).
What causes PCOS?
Women with PCOS usually produce too much male sex hormone (called androgens). All women produce some of these hormones, but women with PCOS make more than normal.
This excess androgen can prevent ovulation, cause excessive hair growth, and cause irregular bleeding.
What are the symptoms of PCOS?
Women with PCOS will likely have several of the following symptoms:
Irregular menstrual cycles
Very light bleeding
No menstrual cycles
Significant acne
Increased body hair, facial hair, changes in the voice (usually a deepening of the voice), baldness, or hair loss on the head.
Diabetes or insulin resistance
Weight gain or obesity
Infertility (the inability to become pregnant)
How is PCOS diagnosed?
There are many tests that can be done to diagnose PCOS. These may include:
Blood tests to check hormone and insulin levels
Pelvic ultrasound
How is PCOS treated?
Lifestyle changes:
Regular exercise can help to reduce many of the symptoms and effects of PCOS. By exercising, you improve your body's use of insulin and, in turn, improve the symptoms of PCOS.
Weight loss is another important factor in reducing the symptoms of PCOS.
Medication:
Your doctor may suggest the use of birth control pills, progesterone, or other hormones to stimulate regular menstrual bleeding.
Other medication can be given to treat insulin resistance and lower blood sugar levels.
