Polycystic ovary syndrome
Overview
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects how a woman's ovaries work.
Symptoms
If you havesigns and symptoms of PCOS, they'll usually become apparent during your late teens or early 20s. They can include: irregular periods orno periods at alldifficulty getting pregnant as a result of irregular ovulation or no ovulationexcessive hair growth (hirsutism)– usually on the face, chest, back or buttocksweight gainthinning hair andhair lossfrom the headoily skin oracne PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of developing health problems in later life, such astype 2 diabetesandhigh cholesterollevels.
Causes
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it often runs in families. It's related to abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls sugar levels in the body. Many women with PCOS are resistant to the action of insulin in their body and produce higher levels of insulin to overcome this. This contributes to the increased production and activity of hormones like testosterone. Being overweight orobesealso increases the amount of insulin your body produces.