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Medically reviewed by<\/em>Robyn Faye, M.D.<\/em>
<\/em><\/p>\nSeptember is <\/em>polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness month<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\nPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders in women. Yet, up to 75% of people who have PCOS remain undiagnosed. We reached out to Robyn Faye, M.D., an OB-GYN with Abington-Jefferson Women\u2019s Health Care Group and a member of HealthyWomen\u2019s Women\u2019s Health Advisory Council, to find out what you should know about this condition.<\/p>\n
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What is PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects the ovaries. People with PCOS may have too many male hormone (androgen) levels or other abnormal lab results, infrequent periods, and\/or enlarged ovaries that have small fluid-filled sacs, known as follicles or cysts, on their outer edge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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What are the symptoms of PCOS?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
PCOS symptoms are different for everybody. However, some common symptoms of PCOS are:<\/p>\n
\n- Irregular periods<\/li>\n
- Severe acne<\/li>\n
- Excess facial or body hair growth (fancy word for this: hirsutism)<\/li>\n
- Weight gain<\/li>\n
- Insulin resistance (when your body does not respond to insulin, which often results in high blood sugar levels and can possibly lead to diabetes)<\/li>\n
- Abnormally high levels of insulin in your blood (called hyperinsulinemia, if you want to get technical)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
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How does PCOS get diagnosed?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
PCOS can be diagnosed by healthcare providers (HCPs) based on symptoms, a pelvic exam or transvaginal ultrasound to look for abnormalities, or through blood tests.<\/p>\n
\n- PCOS can be diagnosed when a person has at least two of three telltale signs:\n
\n- Abnormal blood test results<\/li>\n
- Irregular periods<\/li>\n
- \u201cRing of pearls\u201d (ovaries with increased cysts and volume)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Clues from blood work that a HCP can use to determine if a person has PCOS can be:\n
\n- High androgen levels<\/li>\n
- Signs of metabolic issues such as excessive insulin in blood and high fasting cholesterol, triglyceride or blood glucose levels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
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What causes PCOS?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
We don\u2019t know exactly what causes PCOS yet, but experts think PCOS is probably influenced by genetics and the environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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How do you treat PCOS?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
There\u2019s no cure for PCOS, but there are many treatments that may help to control PCOS symptoms and keep it from getting worse. The treatment that is right for you depends on your specific needs. For example:<\/p>\n
\n- Lifestyle changes aimed at weight loss, including a low-calorie diet and exercise program, are common recommendations for all PCOS patients. This is because weight loss may help PCOS get better and help ward off its possible effects on your metabolism.<\/li>\n
- Birth control pills can help reduce androgen levels and regulate a person\u2019s menstrual cycle. <\/li>\n
- Metformin, a common Type 2 diabetes medication, can help improve insulin resistance and lower blood sugar levels.<\/li>\n
- Spironolactone, which minimizes the effect of excess androgens on the skin, may assist with severe acne caused by PCOS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
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Does PCOS cause other medical conditions?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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