Two Ways to Tell If You May Have the Most Common Cause of Infertility

PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is caused by an imbalance of hormones that can cause infertility by interfering with ovulation. Although it only affects five to ten percent of women around the ages of 20 to 30 in the U.S., it is the leading cause of infertility.

Here are symptoms:

Irregular periods: This is the most common symptom of PCOS. Women may miss their periods frequently or completely. Some women may not have menstrual periods at all.

Higher levels of androgen: Androgens are male hormones and may be elevated in women with PCOS. This includes physical signs such as facial and body hair, increased acne and male-pattern baldness.

The cause of PCOS is still unknown, but women with the condition can develop other complications, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and even depression or anxiety.

If you start to notice symptoms, consult with your doctor immediately, even if you don’t have plans for having children. Untreated PCOS can cause health problems other than infertility, such as cancer and heart disease. The majority of women, about 85 percent, will be able to ovulate again once treated.

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• complications health healthy lifestyle healthy living hormones imbalance infertility ovulate pcos polycystic ovarian syndrome primary care women's health