{"id":22807,"date":"2019-02-26T12:15:34","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T19:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=22807"},"modified":"2025-04-15T15:23:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T21:23:03","slug":"what-is-polycystic-ovary-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/what-is-polycystic-ovary-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"What is polycystic ovary syndrome?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Irregular periods and trouble losing weight could be signs of polycystic ovary syndrome. Photo by Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you have irregular periods, excess facial hair and find it difficult to lose weight, you might be one of the 5-10% of adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS. But the condition can be confusing and sometimes challenging to diagnose.<\/p>\n

Dr. Mary Bowman, an OB\/GYN with UCHealth Women\u2019s Care Clinics in Steamboat Springs<\/a> and Craig<\/a>, outlines what you need to know about polycystic ovary syndrome.<\/p>\n

The basics of PCOS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hormone imbalances cause polycystic ovary syndrome. All women make small amounts of androgens or \u201cmale hormones,\u201d but women with PCOS make more androgens than the average woman. That can prevent ovulation and can result in hirsutism, commonly referred to as excess facial hair, and acne.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a big genetic component,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cIf a woman has polycystic ovaries, her first-degree relatives have a 20-25% chance of also having it.\u201d<\/p>\n

But often there isn\u2019t an obvious cause.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something that\u2019s hard for people,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cThey want to understand, \u2018Why do I have this?\u2019 But it\u2019s often just bad luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making a PCOS diagnosis<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome typically have at least two of the three main symptoms: irregular periods, high levels of androgens and cysts in the ovaries. An ultrasound can show multiple small ovarian cysts, while high levels of androgens are confirmed with a blood test or physical signs such as excess hair growth or acne.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf someone doesn\u2019t have an elevated testosterone level, they most likely don\u2019t have polycystic ovary syndrome,\u201d Bowman said.<\/p>\n

Obesity can be another symptom, but not all women with the condition are overweight. Irregular periods don\u2019t always point to polycystic ovaries but may relate to ovulatory dysfunctions.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome often develop when menstruation begins, but the condition can be especially difficult to diagnose in teens.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdolescents already have irregular menses and you can\u2019t use ultrasound for adolescents as their ovaries can naturally look polycystic,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cIt can take a little while to make a diagnosis. If a teen has a workup that doesn\u2019t reflect polycystic ovary syndrome, but still has irregular periods, or acne and weight issues, then she should be reevaluated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Treatment Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n

PCOS puts women at risk for additional health issues, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, mood disorders and sleep apnea, so it\u2019s important to treat. A healthy diet and regular exercise are the first lines of treatment, and often, a doctor will recommend losing weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t take that much weight to make a difference. Losing five to ten percent of your weight can help restore ovulatory function,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cBut it can be really, really hard to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bowman recommends building a support system \u2013 a dietitian, a physical trainer and friends \u2013 to help meet weight-loss goals.<\/p>\n

An oral contraceptive provides reliable birth control and addresses hormonal imbalance. \u201cIt actually sops up extra testosterone, which helps with acne and excess hair growth,\u201d Bowman said.<\/p>\n

Women who can\u2019t take birth control pills should take progesterone to protect the uterus from the excess estrogen that can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Other medications can help address other symptoms, including insulin resistance, acne, excess hair and mood disorders.<\/p>\n

Women with polycystic ovaries, who are trying to get pregnant, often run into challenges. A health care provider can advise individualized therapy, but other options, such as in vitro fertilization, may be necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe eggs that are in their ovaries are perfectly good eggs,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cBut they just don\u2019t mature and pop out as they should.\u201d<\/p>\n

When helping women navigate treatment options, Bowman emphasizes that the disorder is not their fault.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just have it. It\u2019s no fault, no foul,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cWe\u2019re given whatever we\u2019re given, and we have to work with that and determine what we can do to be our best self, our healthiest self.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

This article first appeared in the Steamboat Pilot & Today on Oct. 1, 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you have irregular periods, excess facial hair and find it difficult to lose weight, you might be one of the 5-10% of adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS. But the condition can be confusing and sometimes challenging to diagnose. Dr. Mary Bowman, an OB\/GYN with UCHealth Women\u2019s Care Clinics in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2163,"featured_media":22808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[9187,4577,212],"class_list":["post-22807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-living","tag-readysetco","tag-steamboat","tag-womens-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is polycystic ovary syndrome? - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Irregular periods, excess facial hair, and trouble losing weight could be polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 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