What is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and how it affects women

By Dr Dr Anitha Rao

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work. The three main features of PCOS are:

• • irregular periods – which means your ovaries do not regularly release eggs (ovulation)
• • excess androgen – high levels of ‘male’ hormones in your body, which may cause physical changes such as excess facial or body hair
• • polycystic ovaries – your ovaries become enlarged and contain many fluid-filled sacs (follicles) that surround the eggs. However, despite the name, you do not actually have cysts if you have PCOS.

If you have at least two of these features, you may be diagnosed with PCOS.

Polycystic ovaries

Polycystic ovaries contain a large number of harmless follicles that are up to 8 mm (approximately 0.3 in) in size. The follicles are underdeveloped sacs in which eggs develop. In PCOS, these sacs are often unable to release an egg, which means ovulation does not take place.

It’s difficult to know exactly how many women have PCOS, but it’s thought to be very common, affecting about one in every 10 women in the UK. More than half of these women do not have any symptoms.

Symptoms of PCOS

The signs and symptoms of PCOS usually become apparent during the late teens or early 20s. They can include:

• • irregular periods or no periods at all
• • difficulty getting pregnant as a result of irregular ovulation or no ovulation
• • excessive hair growth (hirsutism) – usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks
• • weight gain
• • thinning hair and hair loss
• • oily skin or acne

PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of developing health problems in later life, such as Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol levels.

Causes of PCOS

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it often runs in families. It is related to abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls sugar levels in the body.

Many women with PCOS are resistant to the action of insulin in their body and produce higher levels of insulin to overcome this. This contributes to the increased production and activity of hormones like testosterone. Being overweight or obese also increases the amount of insulin your body produces.

Treating PCOS

There’s no cure for PCOS, but the symptoms can be treated. Speak to a gynaecologist if you think you may have the condition.

If you have PCOS and you’re overweight, losing weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet can make some symptoms better.

Medicines are also available to treat symptoms such as excessive hair growth, irregular periods and fertility problems.

If fertility medicines are not effective, a simple surgical procedure called laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) may be recommended. This involves using heat or a laser to destroy the tissue in the ovaries that’s producing androgens.

With treatment, most women with PCOS are able to get pregnant.

Dr Anitha Rao
Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology
MBBS, MD – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, MRCOG
BirthRight by Rainbow Hospital, Hebbal

This article was published in association with BirthRight by Rainbow Hospital.