Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that causes women to have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or an excess of the male hormone, androgen.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome usually develop around the time of the first menstrual period, or it can develop later on in life - mainly in response to substantial weight gain.

A diagnosis of PCOS may be made if you experience at least two of these signs:

• Irregular menstrual periods or absent periods
• Obesity
• Excess hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen or upper thighs
• Severe acne that occurs after adolescence and does not respond to treatments
• Infertility (PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility)

What are the causes of PCOS?

The exact cause of polycystic ovary syndrome isn’t known, but there are a number of possible factors that might play a role:

• Excess insulin: The production of too much insulin may increase the production of the androgen hormone which causes difficulty with ovulation.
• Low-grade inflammation: Research has shown that women with PCOS have a type of low-grade inflammation that stimulates polycystic ovaries to produce androgens, which can lead to heart and blood vessel problems.
• Genetics: Research suggests that certain genes might be linked to PCOS.
• Excess androgen: The ovaries produce abnormally high levels of androgen. This results in hirsutism (excess hair growth) and acne.