What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormone disorder that affects 5-10% of women. Like all syndromes, PCOS is a collection of problems that are found together. Not all women with PCOS have all the same symptoms.
To be diagnosed with PCOS, a woman must have 2 of 3 possible issues: chronic lack of ovulation (anovulation), chronic high testosterone (hormone) levels (hyperandrogenism), and ovaries that have multiple fluid-filled sacs (polycystic).
How is PCOS diagnosed?
Because this condition is diagnosed by identifying several different problems, PCOS is diagnosed using a combination of physical exam and history, ultrasound (sonogram) and blood tests. On exam, women who have PCOS may complain of irregular or missed menstrual periods or a long time between periods. They may also be overweight, have increased hair growth (hirsutism), acne, or be unable to get pregnant. On ultrasound, many women with PCOS have enlarged ovaries with many small cysts. Blood tests may show high blood sugar, high cholesterol levels, or high levels of male hormones.
How is PCOS treated?
PCOS is a condition that has no "treatment" but instead it's symptoms are managed. Most concerning symptoms (like prolonged lack of periods) are treated in 1 of 2 ways: Birth control or Metformin. While stigma about birth control exists, it's helpful to remember that the true purpose of birth control is management of hormones and in this case "hormone control" pills are an important part of preventing more long-term and serious problems.
Below are several resources to review:
PCOS in Teens Information (can change on top right to any other language)