Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

About
  • 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

Potential Causes
  • 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

Symptoms
  • 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

Diagnosis
  • 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

Treatment
  • 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