PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, is a malady that afflicts women, affecting their fertility, hormones, heart, appearance, blood vessels, and menstrual cycles. It is actually a very common problem for women of childbearing age. Women afflicted with the disease tend to have high levels of male hormones, small cysts in their ovaries, and irregular menstrual cycles – or none at all.

Doctors do not know what causes Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It is common for it to run in the family, however; if you have another family member afflicted with the disorder and find symptoms of it in yourself, chances are great that you have it also. Another common factor in women afflicted with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is obesity and overweight.

Researchers have detected a connection between the insulin production of the body and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. One of the factors of the illness is an increased production of insulin; as a result, the ovaries may react by producing an excess of male hormones. In women, this leads to excessive hair growth, skin problems, rapid weight gain, as well as ovulation problems.

Common symptoms of this disorder include no menstrual periods or an irregular schedule, infertility, thinning hair or male pattern baldness, oily skin, dandruff, pain in the pelvic region, rapid weight gain, patches of thickened body hair, and health problems like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

While there is no strict test for diagnosing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, your doctor should be able to make the diagnosis based on a comprehensive exam that includes blood tests, an ultra sound, a pelvic examination, and a study of your medical history.

It is true that there is not a cure for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It can, however, be managed in a number of ways to prevent further health problems. Many women are given birth control pills, which help women afflicted with the syndrome to regulate their menstrual cycles, while reducing skin problems and the number of male hormones produced by the body. Pills that contain progesterone can also help. Some women are prescribed diabetes medication, which helps regulate glucose and increase ovulation, while also slowing down the growth rate of hair. Other types of medication stimulate the ovaries, but this can put women at risk for multiple births – twins, triplets, or even more.