Polycystic ovaries syndrome

Polycystic ovaries (also called Stein-Leventhal syndrome or PCOS) is a condition associated with multiple cysts on or in the ovaries. Every month, during a normal menstrual cycle, the ovaries will produce follicles that contain the eggs which are released. Normally only one follicle will mature fully and go on to release an egg, however in polycystic ovaries many follicles are produced but none of them mature sufficiently to release an egg. This means that ovulation doesn’t take place and therefore the normal hormonal cycle is interrupted and hormone levels become unbalanced, creating a ongoing problem. As a result PCOS is now known to be the most common cause of infertility and ovarian failure. It is believed that 10% of women in the UK may be affected by PCOS to some extent and according to the NHS, almost 25% of women referred for an ultrasound exam are found to have PCOS. The classic symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome are: irregular or light periods, or no periods at all acne/spots infertility excessive hair growth weight gain However, it should be borne in mind that if you suffer from PCOS, you may not have all the symptoms all of the time. Every symptom can also be experienced in mild or severe forms and they usually start to develop in the early years after puberty. The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it is known that it runs in families and that insulin resistance, particularly in those who are overweight, seems to be a factor as well. This is probabl...
Source: The Hysterectomy Association - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Health PCOS Source Type: news