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Alternate Names: Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, Chronic Hyperandrogenic Anovulation (CHA), PCOS
Featuring content from MRI Clinic
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not a disease in the usual sense; rather, it is a collection of symptoms that can affect a woman's reproductive health and heart health, and it can have other significant effects on health and lifestyle. It affects 5% to 10% of women in their reproductive years. Its risk factors are not well known, but heredity does play a role.
The causes of PCOS are unknown. Researchers believe that insulin resistance and an imbalance of male hormones (e.g., testosterone) and female hormones (e.g., estrogens and progestins, those important for the menstrual cycle) contribute to the development of this condition.
There are many possible symptoms, and you can have PCOS without having all of them. Some of the common symptoms include:
Symptoms most commonly associated with PCOS are unwanted hair growth and irregular menstrual periods. Women may have fewer menstrual periods (oligomenorrhea) or miss their periods for 6 months or more (amenorrhea).
Many women do not know they have PCOS until they try to become pregnant. Infertility is an issue for about 75% of those with PCOS. If these women do become pregnant, they are at an increased risk of complications and of miscarriage. About half of those with PCOS have acanthosis nigricans (a grey-brown skin discoloration), signifying that the body has too much insulin.
Up to 50% of women with PCOS are obese, and in many cases the extra body weight is centered around the abdomen. Central obesity increases the risk of developing many conditions, including:
Regardless of their body weight, women with PCOS have an increased risk for developing these conditions.
Acne is another symptom seen by some women with PCOS. 85% of women older than age 20 who suffer from acne likely have PCOS. Loss of hair from the scalp is also possible.
Complications of PCOS can include endometrial cancer: if a woman has irregular menstrual periods for an extended time, the lining of the uterus can build up and develop cancerous cells. This may take many years to develop. Women who do not have regular periods (or any periods at all) should consult their doctor.
PCOS is a diagnosis that is made once other conditions causing similar signs and symptoms have been investigated and ruled out by your doctor.
To rule out other conditions, your doctor performs a physical examination and may order a series of laboratory tests, including:
Your doctor may also ask you to have a pelvic ultrasound. This will allow your doctor to visualize your ovaries and the diagnosis of PCOS may be confirmed.
If you have PCOS, the ultrasound may show 8 to 10 cysts smaller than 10 mm in size on each ovary. These are often said to look like a string of pearls. Interestingly, these lesions are not actually cysts but the remains of ovarian follicles that did not successfully make or release an ovum (egg). However, about 20% of all women will have ovarian cysts visible on the ultrasound, so having one or two cysts does not necessarily mean you have PCOS.
Given that the cause(s) of PCOS are unknown, there is no cure for the condition. The focus, instead, is on managing bothersome symptoms or those that increase the risk for other diseases.
A healthy diet and exercise are important parts of managing PCOS regardless of your weight. Weight loss is recommended for women with obesity - while it will not cure PCOS, it will lessen symptoms.
Medications used to manage PCOS often influence how the body uses insulin or restore the balance between male and female hormones in the body.
Oral contraceptives are used to manage many symptoms associated with PCOS for women who are not trying to become pregnant. They regulate menstrual periods and can reduce acne. Other options that affect hormone levels and are used by women not planning pregnancy include progestins and antiandrogens (e.g., spironolactone*).
Medications that improve the body's ability to use insulin help to regulate blood sugar. Metformin, an antidiabetes medication, is often used in many women with PCOS who have infertility. Metformin can also help reduce weight, unwanted body hair, and acne. If metformin is unsuccessful for managing infertility, other options such as infertility medications (e.g., clomiphene) may be recommended. Other medications affecting insulin may be used (e.g., rosiglitazone, pioglitazone) by women with PCOS.
Hair loss on the scalp may be managed with medications such as minoxidil and spironolactone. Shaving, waxing, or other hair removal methods may be required to eliminate unwanted body hair. Acne may also be managed with medications available with or without a prescription that can be taken by mouth or applied directly to the skin.
Acanthosis nigricans may fade with the use of prescription medications applied directly to the skin. Examples include 15% urea, alpha-hydroxy acid, and salicylic acid. This symptom may lessen with the use of metformin as well.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2019. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome
All material © 1996-2019 MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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