Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a common condition occurring in approximately 10% of all women. The symptoms vary from woman to woman and there is often a familial pre-disposition to this condition.

What is the cause of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

Every month the ovary produces a number of small follicles each containing an egg. From this crop of follicles one continues to grow and release an egg at around day fourteen of the cycle (Ovulation). The remaining follicles die away.

Women with PCOS have higher than normal levels of insulin in their blood stream and it is this that is responsible for the hormonal changes associated with this condition. Insulin causes the ovaries to produce excessive amounts of androgens (the male hormones) and leads to other more complex hormonal changes, which disturbs the process by which one follicle continues to grow and the others disappear. Women with this condition may not ovulate or do so infrequently and the ovary is seen to contain lots of little cysts or follicles, hence the name.

What are the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

Making the diagnosis

Treatment

Long term effects of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

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