Other health conditions associated with PCOS include overweight or obesity, high blood pressure, adult-onset diabetes or glucose intolerance (prediabetes), abnormal cholesterol values, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, depression and anxiety, and endometrial cancer. Thats why its called polycystic ovary syndrome. Patients should be evaluated for other conditions prior to a PCOS diagnosis, including thyroid disorders, elevated prolactin (a hormone involved in breast milk production), primary ovarian insufficiency (when ovaries stop producing eggs before age 40 years), hormone production problems in the hypothalamus and pituitary glands in the brain, and adrenal gland disorders. Most of those who have PCOS grow many small cysts on their ovaries. Blood androgen measurement and pelvic ultrasound are sometimes done to confirm the diagnosis. People with PCOS may be at higher risk for certain health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Polycystic ovary/ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a set of symptoms related to an imbalance of hormones that can affect women and girls of reproductive age.17 It is defined and diagnosed by a combination of signs and symptoms of androgen excess, ovarian dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound. Treatment for PCOS depends on if you wish to become pregnant. Women with PCOS are at higher risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and high blood pressure. It causes irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne and infertility. Shared Decision Making and Communicationĭiagnosis of PCOS and Evaluation for Other Conditionsĭiagnosis of PCOS can often be made based on a patient’s history and physical examination. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects hormones.Scientific Discovery and the Future of Medicine.Health Care Economics, Insurance, Payment.Clinical Implications of Basic Neuroscience.It involves cysts in the ovaries, high levels of male hormones, and irregular periods. Epidemiology Polycystic ovaries may be seen in 20 women of reproductive age 1,4. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects up to almost 27 percent of women during their childbearing years. Challenges in Clinical Electrocardiography A proportion of women with polycystic ovaries will have the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which in turn requires additional clinical, as well as biochemical, criteria otherwise polycystic ovaries can be considered a normal variant.