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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome |
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome usually have at
least several of the many signs and symptoms associated with
PCOS, including:
- Irregular or no menstruation. This is
the most common characteristic. Irregular menstruation means
having menstrual cycles that occur at intervals longer than
35 days or fewer than eight times a year. The condition may
begin in adolescence with the onset of menstruation, or it
may appear later after a weight gain.
- Signs of excess androgen. Elevated
levels of male hormones may result in physical signs, such
as long, coarse hair on your face, chest, lower abdomen,
back, upper arms or upper legs (hirsutism); acne; and
male-pattern baldness (alopecia). However, not all women who
have polycystic ovary syndrome have physical signs of
androgen excess.
- Enlarged ovaries with multiple cysts.
Your doctor may detect ovarian cysts by ultrasound. However,
you may have ovaries with multiple cysts but still not have
polycystic ovary syndrome. And you may have PCOS but have
ovaries that appear normal.
- Infertility. Polycystic ovary syndrome
is the most common cause of female infertility in the United
States.
- Obesity. It's estimated that about half
of women with polycystic ovary syndrome are obese.
- Skin tags. These small, excess growths
of skin that are usually found on your neck or in your
armpit are common in women with PCOS.
- Prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. The
ability to use insulin effectively is impaired in PCOS and
can result in high blood sugar levels and diabetes.
Prediabetes is also called impaired glucose tolerance.
- Acanthosis nigricans. This is the
medical term for darkened, velvety skin on the nape of your
neck, armpits, inner thighs, vulva or under your breasts.
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