POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS)

1. What is Polycystic ovarian Disease?

What is Polycystic ovarian Disease?
What causes PCOS?
What are some symptoms of PCOS?
What are the hormone changes in PCOS and their implications to the woman’s health?
How is PCOS diagnosed? What tests are done?
When should I become alert about myself or someone I care for, about PCOS?
How is PCOS treated?
Will PCOS affect pregnancy?
Does PCOS put women at risk for other health problems?
What can I do to prevent complications?
Emotional aspects of PCOS

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?

Polycystic Ovarian Disease [(better known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)] initially derived its name from the presence of a number of small cysts on the ovaries, associated with menstrual irregularity, obesity, increased hair growth on face chest and stomach and infertility in women.

Currently PCOS is defined as a condition in which 2 of the following 3 features are present:

- there is diminished or absent ovulation manifested as infrequent or absent menstruation
- excessive androgen activity (either clinically evident or established through blood tests)
- polycystic ovaries established by ultrasound scans

A number of women with PCOS do not have polycystic ovaries but have other symptoms that qualify their condition to be PCOS, and some women with polycystic ovaries do not have any symptoms of PCOS. Therefore it is important to distinguish Polycystic ovaries (PCO) as a symptom from PCOS as a condition affecting many aspects of health.

A woman is diagnosed with polycystic ovaries (as opposed to PCOS) if she has 12 or more follicles in at least 1 ovary, measuring 2-9 mm in diameter, or a total ovarian volume of greater than 10 cubic cm.

The cysts found in PCOS are not harmful but lead to hormone imbalances. These small cysts are follicles (small fluid-filled sacs on the ovary within which an egg develops) that have gone only halfway through their development and remained as such, without reaching full size, breaking open to release egg at the middle of cycle. These follicles start releasing male hormone substances that lead to changes in woman’s health, including infertility..

PCOS is also known by the name Stein-Leventhal syndrome.

How many women have PCOS?

About 1 in 10-20 of child-bearing age. Though it’s common in women aged 25 and above, it may be seen in teenagers as well.

Next: What causes PCOS?

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