What you need to know about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

I was having dinner with two friends recently and they asked me what I did over the weekend.  When I told them I was writing about cysts one of my friends asked me cautiously, "You mean like ovarian cysts?"  I nodded and then both friends proceeded to tell me that they suffered from a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.  Of course I had no idea that this was an issue for them.  But then again most people don't talk about cysts over dinner.  But maybe they should.

So I asked them what it was like to have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) where multiple cysts can grow on the ovaries each month and disrupt ovulation.  My younger friend who is now in her twenties talked about being diagnosed in her teens when her period was highly irregular.  She told me how she would not have a period for several months in a row but then when she did have a period it might last for several weeks with heavy bleeding.  She added that she might have only three to four periods in a whole year.  My other friend who is in her thirties described the same scenario and added that her gynecologist put her on birth control pills to help regulate her cycle. 

Both friends worry about their fertility and have moms who had trouble conceiving.  According to the literature (The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health by Carlson, M.D., et al.) one cause of PCOS may be genetic inheritance.  Another possible cause is insulin sensitivity.  PCOS is not uncommon.  It is said to occur in one out of ten premenopausal women.  Usually what happens as did with my two friends is that PCOS is diagnosed in the teen years when there are missed menstrual cycles.

What are some of the warning signs that you may have PCOS?  The National Women's Health Information Center includes the following as potential symptoms of PCOS: 

• Multiple cysts on your ovaries
• Absent or irregular periods and irregular bleeding (this fits the description of what my friends had talked about of having no periods for months and then one long period lasting several weeks with a heavy flow.
• Increased hair growth on face or body due to high levels of androgens (sometimes called male hormones).
• Pelvic pain
• Acne, oily skin, or dandruff
• Thinning hair or even male pattern baldness
• Weight gain, especially around the waist leading to obesity
• Patches of dark skin around the neck, breasts, arms and thighs

So if you are missing your period for several cycles in addition to irregular bleeding and increased facial and body hair, it may be time to see your doctor or gynecologist to seek a diagnosis. 

How are you diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

It appears that there is not one single test to diagnose PCOS but rather a checklist of signs and symptoms.  Your doctor will conduct a thorough physical examination as well as ask you about your gynecological history.  They will probably do a blood test to check out your hormone levels and may also do an ultrasound to confirm the presence of cysts on your ovaries.