Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

It is possible that the main title of the report Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Bilateral Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Ovarian Hyperthecosis
• Ovarian Syndrome
• PCOS
• Polycystic Bilateral Ovarian Syndrome
• POS
• Sclerocystic Ovarian Disease
• Stein-Leventhal Syndrome
• anovulation with hyperandrogenism

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects women and is a complex of symptoms that are not necessarily all present in all cases. Some, but not all, affected women have multiple cysts on the ovaries (polycystic ovaries). Other characteristics include the absence of menstruation (amenorrhea) or irregular menstruation, failure of the ovary to release eggs (anovulation), elevated levels of the male hormones known as androgens (hyperandrogenism), excessive amounts of body hair (hirsutism), a high rate of miscarriage, and infertility. Three criteria often used for a diagnosis are menstrual irregularity, hyperandrogenism, and exclusion of other disease. There is some evidence that PCOS is an inherited condition.