Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (also known as Polycystic Ovary Disease) is one of the most common and regularly detected disorders that affect the endocrine system in women. It is estimated that worldwide the condition affects approximately between 5 to 25 % ( dependant on how it is defined by its symptoms ) of females who are in what is defined as their reproductive years, these can be considered to be between the ages of 15 to 45 years old.

Due to the fact that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is an endocrine system abnormality, where it causes an imbalance of hormones, such as elevated levels of androgens or male hormones, it is generally seen as one of the primary and leading causes of poor fertility and menstrual disorders in women.

Some of the symptoms and side effects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can be identified and characterised by the formation of multiple cysts on one or both of the ovaries, and, as a result, the ovary becomes enlarged and produces excessive amounts of hormones, which leads to an absence of ovulation, and may cause a variety of physical symptoms and side effects such as infertility, acne (including adult acne), excessive  growth of extra facial and body hair, particularly on the chin and chest, excessive weight gain, pain in the pelvic area, patches of skin on the body that are thicker and darker than the surrounding skin, type two diabetes, trouble falling pregnant and other associated conditions such as heart disease, mood disorders, difficulty breathing whilst asleep or obstructive sleep apnea and endometrial cancer.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or disease is triggered in women due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. There are a variety of risk factors, some of which include excessive weight, a lack of or not enough physical exercise and a family history of the condition appearing in a close relative.

Diagnosis is generally based on the occurrence of two of the following three physical conditions; a lack of ovulation, excessively high levels of androgen and cysts in the ovarian region of the reproductive system.

These cysts are generally detected through the use of an ultrasound.