What is polycystic ovary syndrome? 
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition which can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones and aspects of her appearance. It can also affect long-term health. This information is about the effects on your long-term health and does not cover specific treatment options for PCOS.

What are polycystic ovaries?
Polycystic ovaries are slightly larger than normal ovaries and have twice the number of follicles (small cysts). Polycystic ovaries are very common affecting 20 in 100 (20%) of women.
Having polycystic ovaries does not mean you have polycystic ovary syndrome. Around 6 or 7 in 100 (6-7%) of women with polycystic ovaries have PCOS.

What are the symptoms of PCOS? 
The symptoms of PCOS can include:

• irregular periods or no periods at all
• difficulty becoming pregnant (reduced fertility)
• having more facial or body hair than is usual for you (hirsutism)
• loss of hair on your head
• being overweight, rapid increase in weight, difficult losing weight
• oily skin, acne
• depression and mood swings
   
  The symptoms may vary from woman to woman. Some women have mild symptoms, while others are affected more severely by a wider range of symptoms.

What causes PCOS: 
The cause of PCOS is not yet known. PCOS sometimes runs in families. If any of your relatives (mother, aunts, sisters) are affected with PCOS, your own risk of developing PCOS may be increased.

The symptoms of PCOS are related to abnormal hormone levels. Hormones are chemical messengers which control body functions. Testosterone is a hormone which is produced by the ovaries. Women with PCOS have slightly higher than normal levels of testosterone and this is associated with many of the symptoms of the condition.

Insulin is a hormone which regulates the level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. If you have PCOS, your body may not respond to the hormone insulin (known as insulin resistance), so the level of glucose is higher. To prevent the glucose levels becoming higher, your body produces more insulin. High levels of insulin can lead to weight gain, irregular peroids, infertility and higher levels of testosterone.

 How is PCOS diagnosed? 
Women with PCOS often have different signs and symptoms and sometimes these come and go. This can make PCOS a difficult condition to dignose. Because of this, it may take a while to get a diagnoses.

A diagnose is usually made when you have any two of the following:

• irregular, infrequent periods or no periods
• more facial or body hair than is usual for you and/or blood tests which show higher testosterone levels than normal
• an ultrasound scan which shows polycystic ovaries
   

What could PCOS mean for my long-term health? 
You are at greater risk of developing the following long-term health problems if you have PCOS:

Insulin resistance and diabetes
If your blood glucose does not stay normal, this can lead to diabetes. One or two in every ten (10-20%) women with PCOS go on to develop diabetes at some time. Untreated, this causes damage to organs in the body.

If you have PCOS, your risk of developing diabetes is increased further if you:

• are over 40 years of age
• have relatives with diabetes
• developed diabetes during pregnancy (known as gestational diabetes)
• are obese (body mass index or BMI over 30)

If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you will be given dietary advice and may be prescribed tablets or insulin injections.

High blood pressure
Women with PCOS tend to have high blood pressure, which is likely to be related to insulin resistance and to being overweight, rather than the PCOS itself. High blood pressure can lead to heart problems and should be treated.

Heart disease in later life
Developing heart disease is linked to health condiitons such as diabetes and high blood pressure. If you do not have these conditions, there is no clear evidence that, just because you have PCOS, you are more likely to die from heart disease than women who do not have PCOS.

If you have a high cholesterol level you may be advised to take medication (statins) to reduce the risk of heart problems. If you are trying for a baby, you should seek specialist advice about the use of statins.

Cancer
With fewer periods (less than three year), the endometrium (lining of the womb) can ticken and this may lead to endometrial cancer in a small number of women.

There are different ways to protect the lining of the womb using the hormone progestogen. Your doctor will discuss the options with you. This may include a five-day course of progestogen tablets used every three or four months, taking a contraceptive pill or using the intrauterine contraceptive system (Mirena). The options will depend on whether you are trying for a baby.

PCOS does not increase your chance of breast, cervical or ovarian cancer.

Depression and mood swings
The symptoms of PCOS may affect how you see yourself and how you think others see you. It can lower your self-esteem.

Snoring and daytime drowsiness
PCOS can lead to fatigue or sleepiness during the day. It is also associated with snoring.

Possible Fertility Problems

What can I do to reduce long-term health risks?

Have a healthy lifestyle
The main ways to reduce your overall risk of long-term health problems are to:

•  eat a healthy balanced diet. This should include fruit and vegetables and whole foods (such as wholemeal bread, whole grain cereals, brown rice, wholewheat pasta), lean meat, fish and chicken. You should decrease sugar, salt, caffeine and alcohol (14 units is the recommended maxium units a week for women).
• Eat meals regularly especially including breakfast
• Take exercise regularly (30 minutes at least three times a week).

Your GP or specialist nurse will provide you with full information on eating a healthy diet and exercise.

You should aim to keep your weight to a level which is normal (a BMI between 19 and 25). BMI is the measurement of weight in relation to height. To calculate your BMI follow this link http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx.

If you are overweight, it would be helpful to lose weight and maintain your weight at this new level. If you are obese (BMI greater than 30), discuss strategies for losing weight, including weight-reducing drugs, with your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist.

The benefits of losing weight include:

• a lower risk of insulin resistance and developing diatbetes
• a lower risk of heart problems
• a lower risk of cancer of the womb
• more regular periods
• an increased chance of becoming pregnant
• reduction in acne and a decrease in excess hair growth over time
• improved mood and self-esteem
  

Have regular health checks
Once you have a diagnosis of PCOS, you will be monitored to check for any early signs of health problems.

Women with PCOS over the age of 40 should be offered a blood sugar test once a year to check for signs of diabetes. If you are obese (BMI over 30) or have a family history of diabetes, you may be offered testing for diabetes earlier than age 40.

If you have not had a period for a long time (over 4 months), it is advisable to see your doctor. You may be offered a referral for further tests which may include an ultrasound scan.

Discuss with your doctor how often you should have your blood pressure checked and whether you should have blood tests for cholesterol levels.

Is there a Cure?

There is no cure for PCOS. Medical treatments aim to manage and reduce the symptoms or consequences of having PCOS. Medication alone has not been shown to be any better than healthly lifestyle changes (weight loss and exercise).

Many women with PCOS successfully manage their symptoms and long-term health risks without medical intervention. They do this by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.