Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms, Cause, and Treatment

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms, Cause, and Treatment



What is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a condition in which a woman’s levels of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are out of balance. This leads to the growth of ovarian cysts (benign masses on the ovaries). PCOS can cause problems with a women’s menstrual cycle, fertility, cardiac function, and appearance.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, between 1 in 10 and 1 in 20 women of childbearing age suffers from PCOS. The condition currently affects up to 5 million women in the United States.