Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome Causes and Treatment

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects how the ovaries of people assigned female at birth work.

There are 3 typical features of PCOS. A person diagnosed with PCOS has at least 2 of these features:

• Irregular periods
• Excess androgen
• Polycystic ovaries

Symptoms and signs of PCOS

• Irregular periods or no periods at all
• Difficulty getting pregnant (due to irregular ovulation or no ovulation)
• Excess hair growth
• Acne and skin problems
• Hair loss or hair thinning from the head
• Weight gain

While not considered a key symptom of PCOS, PCOS can be associated with painful sex.

Living with PCOS often has significant physical and emotional impacts, including body-image, greatly affecting a person's quality of life.