Introduction

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects women's hormones. It can cause you to have irregular periods, or even none at all. You may find it hard to get pregnant. PCOS can also cause unwanted hair growth and weight gain. But there are good treatments that can help.

We've brought together the best research about PCOS and weighed up the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk about with your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

If you're a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS for short), some of your hormones will be out of balance. These hormones affect your menstrual cycle (your periods), your weight, and the way hair grows on your body.

You may find having PCOS upsetting. It can make it harder to have children. Some symptoms, like unwanted body hair, can be embarrassing. But you're not alone. Lots of women have this condition. And there are some good treatments that can help.

PCOS is also sometimes called polycystic ovary disease.

Key points for women with polycystic ovary syndrome

• If you have PCOS you have problems with your hormones, particularly the ones that are made in your ovaries.

• You may have irregular periods, or even none at all. You may also get unwanted hair on your face and body, put on weight, and have oily or spotty skin.

• Having PCOS can mean problems getting pregnant for some women. But lots of women with PCOS do have children, with or without treatment.

• Losing weight may help with some of the symptoms of PCOS.

• There are also several drugs that can help women with PCOS.

How do hormones work in your body?

Hormones are chemicals your body makes. They control all sorts of things that happen in your body. The hormones that are affected by PCOS help to control:

• Your periods

• Getting pregnant

• The way your hair grows on your face, head, and body

• Your skin

• Your weight.

Several hormones are made in your ovaries. Your ovaries are two small organs in your abdomen. They are part of your reproductive system. They're connected to your womb by tubes called fallopian tubes. The hormones that your ovaries make are called oestrogens, androgens, and progesterone. The amount of hormones your ovaries make is affected by other hormones, which are made by a gland near your brain.

As well as making hormones, your ovaries release eggs. Usually, your ovaries release one egg a month. This is called ovulation.

If you're healthy, the levels of hormones in your body go up and down as you go through your menstrual cycle. When your hormones are at a certain level, your ovaries release an egg. The egg travels towards your womb. If you have sex around this time, sperm can fertilise the egg. The egg then attaches itself to the wall of your womb and grows into a baby. But if you don't get pregnant, the thick lining of the wall of your womb breaks down, and you have a period.

The hormones in your body all affect each other. For example, insulin is a hormone that controls how much sugar (glucose) you have in your bloodstream. But the amount of insulin in your blood also has an effect on the amount of androgens your body produces.^[1] Androgen hormones affect your sex drive, your skin, the way your hair grows, and how much energy you have.