Subscribe to Our Newsletter!
By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the Pelvic Health Support Privacy Policy and understand that I may opt out of Pelvic Health Support subscriptions at any time.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Common condition that affects how women’s ovaries work
- Three main features include:
- Irregular periods
- Excess androgen
- Polycystic ovaries: Enlargement of ovaries containing many fluid-filled sacs that surround the eggs
- Sacs are often unable to release an egg, resulting in no ovulation
- Most women discover they have PCOS in their twenties and thirties due to infertility issues, but it can happen at any age after puberty
- Affects between 5-10% of women 15-44
- Exact cause is unknown, but is often hereditary (specific genes associated with PCOS have not yet been identified)
- Increased production and activity of hormones
- Resistance to insulin
- Hormone imbalance
- Irregular periods or no periods at all
- Difficulty getting pregnant as a result of irregular ovulation or failure to ovulate
- Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) – usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks
- Weight gain
- Thinning hair and hair loss from the head
- Oily skin/acne
- Increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Medical history
- Blood pressure check
- Transvaginal ultrasound: To determine whether you have a high number of follicles in your ovaries
- Blood test: To measure hormone levels and screen for diabetes and high cholesterol
- Lifestyle: Healthy eating and regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight
- Oral medications: To treat hair loss, irregular periods and infertility
- Surgery: For fertility if medication fails
- Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling (LOD): Electrocautery/a laser is used to destroy the tissue producing androgens (male hormones), thus correcting hormonal imbalance and restoring the normal functioning of the ovaries
