PCOS: What Is It?

Here is an excerpt of an article series I am working on. This explains what PCOS is, how it's diagnosed, and treated.

What Is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

It’s kind of easy to decipher the meaning of this syndrome. It means multiple cysts on an ovary. PCOS is tricky to diagnose sometimes and there are women who go undiagnosed for years. The truth of the matter is that the longer it takes to seek treatment the harder it is to treat. There are some key factors in how PCOS manifests itself and how it affects women:

PCOS Can Affect:

• Menstrual cycle
• Ability to have children
• Hormones
• Heart
• Blood vessels
• Physical Appearance

With PCOS, women typically have:

• High levels of androgens.
• Missed or irregular periods
• Many small cysts in their ovaries

When I said that many women go undiagnosed for years, I meant it. I was one of the lucky ones. I was diagnosed at age thirteen. PCOS contributes to over 5 million women with infertility problems. That accounts for almost half of all infertility patients. While PCOS is treatable, it is not curable.