Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that affects women in their child-bearing years and alters the levels of multiple hormones, resulting in problems affecting many body systems.
Most women with polycystic ovary syndrome produce excess male sex hormones androgens , a condition called hyperandrogenism. Having too much of these hormones typically leads to excessive body hair growth hirsutism , acne, and male pattern baldness. Hyperandrogenism and abnormal levels of other sex hormones prevent normal release of egg cells from the ovaries ovulation and regular menstrual periods, leading to difficulty conceiving a child subfertility or a complete inability to conceive infertility.
For those who achieve pregnancy, there is an increased risk of complications and pregnancy loss. Due to irregular and infrequent menstruation and hormone abnormalities, affected women have an increased risk of cancer of the uterine lining endometrial cancer.
In polycystic ovary syndrome, one or both ovaries can contain multiple small, immature ovarian follicles that can appear as cysts on medical imaging. Normally, ovarian follicles contain egg cells, which are released during ovulation. In polycystic ovary syndrome, abnormal hormone levels prevent follicles from growing and maturing to release egg cells. Instead, these immature follicles accumulate in the ovaries.
Affected women can have 12 or more of these follicles. The number of these follicles usually decreases with age. About half of all women with polycystic ovary syndrome are overweight or have obesity and are at increased risk of a fatty liver.
