The Condition
A woman who has PCOS was born with the condition. Symptoms may not occur until later in life, though. PCOS is a genetic disorder.

Reproductive Hormones
To understand PCOS, it helps to know how certain hormones affect a woman's body.

Insulin
Another hormone that plays a role in PCOS is insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls the body's use of sugar (glucose).

Long-Term Health Risks
Many women with PCOS are at an increased risk of certain health problems. They may need to be tested more often and may require treatment.

For instance, PCOS is linked to heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Signs and Symptoms
In some women with PCOS, hormone changes may begin as early as the very first menstrual cycle. In other women with PCOS, changes occur over time.

Signs and symptoms vary in women with PCOS and may include:

• Excess hair on the face and body (known as hirsutism)
• Acne
• Darkened color and change in texture of the skin along the neck and armpits and on the groin and inner thighs
• Obesity
• Irregular menstrual periods or no periods
• Trouble getting pregnant
• Vaginal yeast infections
• Hair loss

Diagnosis
To diagnose PCOS, your doctor will ask you questions about your health, your menstrual cycle, and your family history. He or she also will do a complete exam that may include blood tests to check levels of insulin, other hormones and blood glucose.

A pelvic ultrasound may be done to look at the ovaries. It also can be used to check the lining of the uterus to see if it is thickened.

Treatment
PCOS is a lifelong condition, but it can be treated in a number of ways. Treatment depends on your symptoms and whether you want to become pregnant. Long-term treatment may be needed if other medical problems arise.

Lifestyle Changes
Lowering insulin levels is a key to managing PCOS. Daily exercise improves the body's use of insulin. Polycystic ovary syndrome may be relieved by daily exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

In some women with PCOS, weight loss will lower insulin levels enough to allow ovulation to begin.

Changes in the type of foods that you eat also may help lower your insulin levels.

Medication
To treat irregular menstrual periods, your doctor may prescribe either the hormone progesterone or birth control pills.

Finally . . .
With proper treatment, PCOS can be managed and your symptoms can be relieved. You should have long-term health care to look for disorders that may arise.

This excerpt from ACOG's Patient Education Pamphlet is provided for your information. It is not medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for visiting your doctor. If you need medical care, have any questions, or wish to receive the full text of this Patient Education Pamphlet, please contact your obstetrician-gynecologist.