What Is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that occurs in women of reproductive age, i.e. from puberty onwards. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are at least 116 million women suffering from the syndrome. PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women mainly due to ovulation disorder. This is because there are menstrual cycle disorders. For a woman to be considered to have the syndrome, 2 of the 3 main symptoms must coexist.
One of the symptoms that a woman may experience is chronic menstrual disorder, i.e. a cycle lasting more than 35 days, no menstruation for several months without pregnancy or a period lasting too many days with little or no blood loss. There may also be increased androgen production and consequently increased facial and body hair, oily skin, adult acne and severe teenage acne, thinning of the scalp and severe hair loss. The third and last of the main symptoms is polycystic ovarian morphology where the ovaries on gynaecological ultrasound appear enlarged and contain an increased number of follicles.
Can a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome get pregnant?
As mentioned PCOS is one of the main causes of infertility in women. A woman with this syndrome does not produce a mature follicle every month, so conception is not possible. However, this woman can become pregnant with or without assisted reproduction. This depends on the severity of the syndrome condition and early diagnosis and treatment by the gynaecologist.
The health risk.
In addition to infertility being a major factor that women turn to their gynaecologist for immediate treatment of the syndrome, health is an equally important factor. Severe cycle disturbance and frequent absence of menstruation, show long term endometrial hyperplasia of the uterus that there is a risk of atypical hyperplasia, polyps and even endometrial cancer. In addition, the body’s resistance to insulin often occurs, with a significant result in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
