Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects how your ovaries work.
It can impact your:
- hormones
- periods
- fertility
- long-term health
Polycystic ovaries
Polycystic ovary syndrome does not mean you have cysts on your ovaries.
Polycystic ovaries are slightly larger than normal ovaries and contain many follicles. Follicles are small fluid-filled sacs that release an egg when you ovulate.
In PCOS, these sacs are not usually able to release an egg. This means that you may not ovulate each month.
Many women have polycystic ovaries without having PCOS. Ovaries that appear polycystic are normal in teenagers.
Symptoms of PCOS
Symptoms can include:
- irregular periods or no periods at all
- excess body or facial hair
- weight gain
- thinning hair and hair loss (alopecia)
- oily skin or acne
- difficulty getting pregnant
Causes of PCOS
The exact cause of PCOS is not known.
It may run in your family.
The 2 main problems that may cause PCOS are:
- insulin resistance
- hormone imbalance
Diagnosing PCOS
You may be diagnosed with PCOS if you're an adult and have at least 2 of the following:
- irregular periods, infrequent periods or no periods at all
- excess hair growth on your face or body or high levels of testosterone in your blood
- an ultrasound scan that shows you have polycystic ovaries
Treating PCOS
There's no cure for PCOS. But you can manage the symptoms.
You can improve symptoms and long-term health problems by making lifestyle changes.
There are also medicines for treating PCOS symptoms such as:
- excess hair growth
- irregular periods
- fertility problems
With treatment, most women with PCOS are able to get pregnant.
Health risks in the future
Having PCOS increases your chances of developing other health problems in the future.
For example, women with PCOS have a higher chance of developing:
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- depression and mood swings
- high blood pressure and high cholesterol - which can lead to heart disease and stroke
- sleep apnoea - interrupted breathing during sleep
- weight gain
- endometrial cancer (cancer of the womb) - this is more likely if you carry excess weight and have irregular periods
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
- you have less than 4 periods a year
You can reduce your chances of getting endometrial cancer by using treatments that help you get a regular period.
For example:
- the contraceptive pill
- progesterone tablets
PCOS and fertility
PCOS can be a cause of fertility problems. But you may still become pregnant even if you do not have periods.
PCOS increases your chance of:
- miscarriage
- medical complications when your pregnant - such as diabetes and high blood pressure
To reduce your risk of complications:
- try and keep a healthy weight
- try to manage your weight if you carry excess weight
- quit smoking
- eat a healthy, balanced diet
- exercise regularly
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
