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What Does PCOS Mean?

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which abnormal hormone levels cause multiple cysts--sac-like structures--to appear on the ovaries and may affect the release of eggs. It is a common condition, affecting between 5 and 10 percent of women, according to Dr. Rob Hicks of the BBC.

  1. Causes

    • The cause of PCOS is not fully understood, but it is believed that excess insulin--a hormone that controls blood sugar levels--causes the ovaries to produce too much of the male hormone testosterone.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of PCOS vary, but 70 percent of women with the condition experience irregular periods or no periods at all, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Infertility is also common. Other symptoms include excessive growth of hair on the face and body, high blood pressure, acne and weight gain.

    Treatment

    • PCOS cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be treated. A low carbohydrate diet, rich in B vitamins and supplemented by nutritional supplements, such as N-acetyl cystine, can provide effective relief from symptoms. Some women take the contraceptive pill or the hormone progestogen to induce bleeding similar to periods, while unwanted hair can be removed by electrolysis, waxing or shaving.

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