What is PCOS and How does it Affect Female Fertility?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a female reproductive disease that is related to the secretion and presence of certain hormones in the female body, which in turn cause certain body function complications. A PCOS sufferer tends to have too many androgens (male hormones) in the body, which leads to various different and occasionally traumatic symptoms. There is also an increased level of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates ovulation. The excess of these hormones causes problems with the ovulation process.

What basically happens is that, when one of the ovaries is supposed to rupture and release an egg for fertilization, it fails to do so. In short, a woman with PCOS does not ovulate. The rupture on the ovary where the egg should have been released becomes a fluid filled sac, and it is this fluid filled sac that is referred to as a cyst. This happens month after month, and no eggs are released. A number of cysts then develop, which is why the condition begins with "poly", a prefix meaning more than one.

The symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome can be devastating. They can include irregular periods (or none at all), acne, excessive hair growth (often on the face and chest due to the increased presence of male hormones), weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even heart disease. The lack of regular periods experienced by a woman with PCOS can cause an increased risk of cancer of one of the reproductive organs, particularly the endometrius and uterus. Infertility can also occur. The irregular periods and lack of ovulation (a condition known as anovulation) make conception extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Although a definitive cure has not been found for PCOS, there are several treatments that have had varying degrees of success with different patients. The actual cause of PCOS is not yet known, and until it is, it is doubtful that a cure will be found.

A lot of the health issues associated with PCOS and listed above (such as diabetes and heart disease) can be avoided and controlled to some degree by exercise and a healthy diet. Medication can be used to force ovulation for women who wish to get pregnant. The ovulation helps to reduce the risk of the sufferer developing cancer. Many PCOS sufferers have become pregnant on receipt of this medication, although it is not a cure for PCOS.
Certain medications can also be used to successfully control the excessive hair growth, while a type of surgery, whereby a piece of the ovary is removed (called a wedge restriction), has been proven to help alleviate symptoms in some sufferers. As such, despite the fact that there is no definitive cure, there are treatments and hope for sufferers of PCOS and the potential to become pregnant naturally.