Polycystic Ovary Disease Syndrome

Polycystic ovary disease syndrome, more commonly called polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, is a condition that results in the growth of cysts on the ovaries. Women who suffer from this condition may not be aware that they have PCOS until they reach child-bearing age and have difficulty getting pregnant. There are other signs of this condition that can often be overlooked, but the earlier it is diagnosed, the sooner a woman can undergo treatment.

Symptoms

• Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome often experience irregular periods or an absence of menstruation altogether. They also tend to be overweight or obese, and will sometimes experience unusual skin conditions, such as skin tags (tiny bits of skin that stick out from the surface of the skin) or darkened skin patches on their neck, armpits or inner thighs. Because polycystic ovary syndrome results in the overproduction of male hormones, women with this condition may also notice an increase in body and facial hair, or may experience male pattern baldness.

Causes

• Doctors are not really sure what causes polycystic ovary syndrome. They do know that the symptoms of the disease are caused by an overproduction of two hormones, insulin and androgen. Insulin helps control the blood sugar levels in our bodies. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are resistant to the effects of insulin, which results in some of the symptoms of the condition. Similarly, women with polycystic ovary syndrome have increased levels of androgen, a primarily male hormone, which also leads to many of the symptoms associated with the condition.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome is tricky, since many of the symptoms of the disease can mimic the symptoms of other diseases. A definitive diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome is usually based upon ruling out the other causes of the symptoms the woman is experiencing. This is usually done with a series of blood tests and a physical examination.

Complications

• Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are more likely to experience infertility than women without the condition. They are also at an increased risk of developing diabetes because of the insulin resistance of polycystic ovary syndrome. The increase of male hormones brought on by polycystic ovary syndrome also increases the risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer.

Treatment

• There is no cure for polycystic ovary syndrome, but there are many treatments available to help alleviate the symptoms of the condition. Birth control pills are often prescribed to help control the menstruation cycle and boost the presence of female hormones. If obesity is an issue, your doctor will recommend a weight loss program to help reduce your risks for heart disease and diabetes, or may prescribe medications to help with these symptoms. Fertility drugs can also be used by women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are having a difficult time getting pregnant.