Polycystic Ovary Disease

Polycystic ovary disease or syndrome is a disorder in women that can cause a number of related health problems such as ovarian cysts and infertility. It affects 10 percent of women of childbearing age, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Identification

• PCOS is a hormonal disorder that in most women causes cysts to grow on ovaries and irregular or infrequent menstrual periods. Most women with PCOS also have excess production of androgens, which are known as male hormones. Excess androgens can lead to ovulation problems, weight gain, acne and excessive hair growth, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Causes

• According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the exact cause of PCOS is not known. However, according to the article "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: It's Not Just Infertility" published in American Family Physician by Dr. Melissa H. Hunter, M.D., and Dr. James J. Sterret, Pharm.D, there is a "growing concensus" that insulin resistance is a cause of PCOS. Your body becomes resistant to insulin and your pancrease creates more to make up for the inability to use the insulin from food. "The excess insulin is thought to boost androgen production by your ovaries," according to Mayo Clinic.

  Many researchers believe there is a genetic factor associated with PCOS. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, women with a mother or sister with PCOS are more likely to have the disease.

Effects

• PCOS can cause infertility in women. Because of irregular or lack of ovulation, a woman with PCOS has a hard time predicting fertile periods (if she has any). According to the Mayo Clinic, "PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility." In addition, more than 50 percent of women with PCOS are obese, according to the Mayo Clinic. PCOS can also lead to type 2 diabetes, high cholestrol, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus).

Diagnosis

• To diagnose PCOS, your doctor will take a history. It is more helpful if you have specific information about your menstrual cycles, including length of cycles and characteristics of menstrual bleeding; if you have gained weight or have had trouble taking off weight; and other symptoms related to PCOS, such as acne and facial hair. To diagnose PCOS, your doctor will order blood tests to check hormone levels and glucose tolerance, which is your body's ability to process glucose. A pelvic ultrasound will be ordered to check for cysts on your ovaries and examine the thickness of the lining of your uterus.

Treatment

• Treatment for PCOS includes dietary modifications and medications. Because of the tie to insulin resistance, cutting out refined carbohydrates may help your manage the symptoms of PCOS, according to the book "A Patient's Guide to PCOS: Understanding and Reversing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" by Dr. Walter Futterweit, M.D. In addition, eating food with a low glycemic index is also advised for women who want to manage their PCOS.

  A variety of medications are used to treat and manage the symptoms of PCOS. For women who are not trying to conceive, birth control pills may be used to prevent ovulation. The hormones in low-dose birth control pills will reduce the production of androgens. Metformin is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, but is sometimes used for women with PCOS. According to the MedicineNet.com, metformin helps the body manage insulin and reduces the symptoms of PCOS.

  For women who are trying to get pregnant, fertility medications are sometimes used to induce ovulation. Examples of these drugs are clomiphene citrate and injectable gonadotropin hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.