Stein-Leventhal syndrome
If you experience symptoms ofpolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), they'll usually become apparent in your late teens or early twenties.
Not all women with PCOS will have all of the symptoms, and each symptom can vary from mild to severe. Many women only experience menstrual problems and/or are unable to conceive.
Commonsymptoms of PCOS include:
You should talk to your GP if you have any of these symptoms and think you may have PCOS.
PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility . Many women discover they have PCOS when they're trying to get pregnant and are unsuccessful.
During each menstrual cycle, the ovaries release an egg (ovum) into the uterus (womb). This process is called ovulation and usually occurs once a month.
However, women with PCOS often fail to ovulate or ovulate infrequently, which means they have irregular or absent periods and find itdifficult to get pregnant.
Having PCOS can increase your chances of developing other health problems in later life. For example, women with PCOS are at increased risk of developing:
Women who have had absent or very irregular periods (fewer thanthree or fourperiodsa year) for many years have a higher-than-average risk of developing cancer of the womb lining (endometrial cancer ).
However, the chance of getting endometrial cancer is stillsmall and can be minimised using treatments to regulate periods, such as the contraceptive pill oran intrauterine system (IUS) .
Read about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is a common condition that affects how a woman's ovaries work.
Find out about the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), including irregular or absent periods, weight gain, fertility problems, thinning hair and hair loss.
The exact cause of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unknown, but it's thought to be related to abnormal hormone levels.
Your GP or specialist may request an ultrasound scan, which can show if you have a high number of cysts in your ovaries (polycystic ovaries).
Read about the treatments for managing the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), such as lifestyle changes, medication and surgery.