Polycystic ovary syndrome

Dear Reader and worried,

Thank you for your insights and questions about this condition! Increasing knowledge about this condition can help you ask informed questions about your health and advocate for yourself as a patient. Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS or Stein-Leventhal syndrome, occurs when certain hormone levels are produced at imbalanced levels. In general, too much androgen and too little estrogen are produced, preventing the ovaries from ovulating and causing small cysts to form where the egg would have normally been released. Reader 1, you’re correct that PCOS can cause missed periods and that it’s wise to know more about the condition because it affects in around five to ten percent of women. It’s also one of the leading causes of infertility in the United States. And worried, though it may affect your ability to have children, the good news is that there are medications that can help with PCOS symptoms and ovulation, thereby increasing your chances of conceiving. Additionally, a combination of medication and lifestyle changes can help manage the other concerns associated with the condition as well. Read on for more about PCOS and how to address the concerns you’ve both mentioned.

To begin, the exact cause of PCOS is still unknown, but certain factors may play a significant role:

• Excess insulin: Too much insulin may cause an increase in androgen production, which may interrupt the ovulation process.
• Low-grade inflammation: Studies have shown that the body's inability to produce white blood cells, the ones in charge of fighting infection, may cause polycystic ovaries to produce androgens.
• Heredity: A family history of this condition may increase an individual’s risk.

List adapted from Mayo Clinic.

Additionally, PCOS is associated with certain characteristics. A diagnosis may be pursued when a person has at least two or more of the following:

• Irregular or absent menstrual periods (indicative of a lack of ovulation)
• High levels of androgens (a hormone) which may manifest physically as atypical hair growth on the face and body, acne that isn’t responsive to typical treatments, and hair loss on the head
• Ovarian cysts (more than ten)

If any combination of these characteristics is observed, further investigation with a health care provider may start with physical and pelvic exams. Furthermore, a blood test may be utilized to measure androgen hormone levels, cholesterol, and blood sugar. An ultrasound may also be in order to look at the ovaries and uterus for cysts and tissue buildup in the uterine lining. It’s wise to be evaluated if PCOS is suspected because there are a number of health complications that folks with this condition are at a higher risk for including sleep apnea, type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, heart disease, hypertension, mood disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety), and endometrial cancer (which may be associated with a build-up of uterine tissue, called endometrial hyperplasia, rather than scar tissue).

For those diagnosed with PCOS, treatment is geared towards management (there is no cure) and is specific to each individual, based on their symptoms, current health concerns, and whether or not they’d like to get pregnant. These can include:

• Lifestyle habits: A first line of management tools is typically addressing lifestyle habits, such as maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity, and eating a balanced diet — all of which are meant to be utilized in conjunction with other treatment options.
• Menstrual regulation: A health care provider might recommend options to help regulate menstrual periods. These may include combination birth control methods (such as oral birth control pills, the contraceptive patch, or the vaginal ring that all contain estrogen and progestin) or progestin therapy. Another alternative approach is metformin, which is a medication that may be used to help regulate periods, improve insulin levels and resistance, as well as help with ovulation.
• Help with achieving conception: Though using oral contraceptives may hinder the ability to conceive, there are several medications that can help with achieving conception for someone with PCOS. One option is clomiphene, an oral anti-estrogen medication taken at the beginning of a menstrual cycle (metformin may help with ovulation when used in conjunction with clomiphene, if clomiphene doesn’t work on its own). In the event that the use of clomiphene and metformin don’t help with ovulation, another possible option is the injection of gonadotropin hormones.
• Addressing excess hair growth: To address excess hair growth (oral contraceptives may also be helpful in this pursuit), there are both medications to block the effect of androgen (which discourages hair growth) and prescription creams that slow the growth of unwanted facial hair.

Lastly, Worried, it may be beneficial to speak with your health care provider to determine what course of treatment is best to address your concerns. In addition to working with your provider, it may also be helpful to check out some support groups available for people with PCOS. Speaking with others and sharing experiences might be very reassuring. Your provider may be able to help you locate these groups, which are offered online or in-person, depending on where you live.