If you’ve been attempting for some time to get pregnant, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of female infertility.

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that can cause a wide variety of problems, including:

• Menstrual cycle abnormalities
• Acne
• Hirsutism (abnormal hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, back, and pubic region)
• Obesity
• Diabetes (insulin resistance)
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Sleep apnea
• Psychological issues (i.e. depression)
• Stroke.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PCOS affects 6-12 percent of all women in the U.S. Its cause is unknown, but most experts think several factors, including genetics, could play a role.

PCOS symptoms include:

• Rare or no menstrual periods over the course of a year (bleeding can be light or heavy when it occurs)
• Elevated levels of androgens (commonly called male hormones)
• Excess hair growth on the face and other areas
• Acne and oily skin
• Pelvic pain (due to ovarian cysts)
• Difficulty achieving pregnancy

Major health concerns

“The metabolic dysfunction and the hormonal abnormalities associated with PCOS put people at risk for many health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol counts, and obesity,” said Dr. Ellen Bianchi, OB-GYN at Marshfield Clinic Health System.

Additionally, women with PCOS can develop uterine cancer.

To diagnose PCOS, your women’s health provider will take a detailed history, perform an appropriate physical exam, order specific blood tests (i.e. to test a variety of hormone levels), and order a pelvic ultrasound to further evaluate the uterus and ovaries.

Treatment for the disorder

“If a woman with PCOS does not want to become pregnant, we typically prescribe birth control pills, which can help regulate a patient’s menstrual cycle, and help to protect the inner lining of the uterus,” Dr. Bianchi said. “If a woman with PCOS wants to become pregnant, we can make recommendations to optimize health that oftentimes allows for spontaneous ovulation to resume and we can also prescribe medication to stimulate ovulation if necessary.”

Obesity and clinical manifestations of insulin resistance are strongly associated with PCOS. This can lead to chronic medical conditions, such as:

• Metabolic syndrome
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Sleep apnea
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

It is imperative that patients with PCOS try and maintain a healthy lifestyle (i.e. proper diet, nutrition and exercise) to decrease the risks of developing these chronic medical conditions. Your doctor can prescribe medication to help reduce the risks of developing these chronic medical conditions associated with insulin resistance.

“You may feel frustrated and concerned, wondering why this has happened to you. You can find some relief knowing that the condition is hormonal and can be treated with medication.

Especially when trying for a baby, it can be encouraging to know there are successful interventions you can pursue and that IVF (in vitro fertilization), which can be very expensive, is not one of the first line treatments,” Dr. Bianchi said.

Dr. Bianchi added that PCOS can be well-managed and that successful pregnancies are common in women affected by this condition.

Talk to your provider if you have symptoms of PCOS or concerns about your reproductive health.

For more information about PCOS, talk to your women’s health provider.

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