Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a chronic condition caused by a hormonal imbalance in women of childbearing age. It’s estimated that 6-13% of women experience PCOS.1 It can cause irregular periods, severe acne, difficulty conceiving, and other symptoms. Women with PCOS are also at risk of serious health conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and endometrial cancer.

Up to 70% of women with PCOS have not been diagnosed.2 If you’re experiencing symptoms of PCOS, contact your provider for evaluation and treatment.

 

What is polycystic ovary syndrome?

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal-based condition that affects women in their reproductive years. It occurs when your ovaries produce too many androgens, which are male hormones. The presence of these male hormones can disrupt your hormonal balance, which leads to various symptoms.

What are common signs of PCOS?

In general, symptoms of PCOS can vary by individual and may change over time. You may experience:

  • Heavy or long periods / unpredictable or absent periods
  • Severe acne and oily skin
  • Excessive hair on the face or body
  • Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
  • Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
  • Patches of thickened dark skin (acanthosis nigricans)
  • Infertility / difficulty conceiving

What is the main cause(s) of PCOS?

Although the exact cause is not known, several factors may be involved in developing PCOS:

  • Insulin resistance - If your body’s cells stop responding well to insulin, it becomes difficult to absorb blood sugar for fuel. This causes your pancreas to make more insulin, which leads to high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. The increased insulin also stimulates your ovaries to produce more androgens, leading to PCOS.
  • Genetic predisposition - PCOS tends to run in families. It’s believed that a combination of genes and environmental factors may be involved in developing the syndrome.
  • Hyperandrogenism - A medical condition where your body produces an excessive amount of androgens (male hormones) leads to the increased facial/body hair, thinning scalp hair, and other symptoms seen in PCOS. However, other hormonal abnormalities, tumors, and certain medications can cause hyperandrogenism as well.

How do you treat PCOS?

There is no cure, but a variety of treatment options for PCOS symptoms are available.

  • Lifestyle changes - Eating healthy foods and getting regular exercise can help manage weight gain and other health problems associated with PCOS. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and others.
  • Medications and treatments - Certain symptoms, such as acne, acanthosis nigricans, thinning hair, or excessive hair growth can be treated with medications, topicals, and dermatological treatments.
  • Hormonal birth control - For those not attempting pregnancy, birth control can help regulate the menstrual cycle. It can also reduce acne and excessive hair.
  • Fertility treatments - Medication to stimulate ovulation or surgery may be recommended for those seeking pregnancy.

Common questions about PCOS:

PCOS can start with the onset of puberty but often develops later and is often not discovered until infertility becomes an issue.

It is possible to have regular periods with PCOS, but you may not be ovulating on a regular basis. This is especially true if you are taking birth control medications.

There is no cure for PCOS, but individual symptoms can be managed through a variety of treatment options. Lifestyle changes and medications can often improve symptoms associated with PCOS.

PCOS does not go away with menopause. Women in menopause may continue to experience symptoms and be at a greater risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other conditions typically associated with aging. Women with PCOS often experience menopause a few years later than average.

Although PCOS is a leading cause of infertility, women with PCOS can get pregnant, especially with intervention to increase ovulation. Even without intervention, It’s estimated that about 50% of women with PCOS who have frequent, unprotected sex for a year will get pregnant.3 Also, women with PCOS tend to enter menopause later, resulting in more potential child-bearing years.

The hormonal imbalances resulting from PCOS can make mood swings, anxiety, and depression more likely. Also, struggles with infertility and symptoms like acne, weight gain, and unwanted hair growth add to stress and anxiety. If you’re suffering from PCOS, managing your emotional health can be a key element in treatment.

Because it’s often driven by androgen hormones, PCOS acne often requires a more comprehensive approach than common acne. Usually a combination of topicals, prescription medications, and lifestyle changes are needed to combat the hormonal imbalances that contribute to this form of acne.

It’s believed that there is a genetic component to PCOS, and that it does tend to run in families. Studies have identified genetic variations that impact hormone production leading to PCOS. Similar genetic variations are also linked to related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Yes, PCOS can result in thrush. Thrush is a condition caused by an overgrowth of fungus within the body. It develops when bacteria levels in the body are insufficient to keep the naturally occurring fungus in check. The hormonal imbalances that lead to PCOS also reduce the amount of helpful bacteria, resulting in fungal infections, like thrush.

PCOS is linked to serious complications including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and endometrial cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment of PCOS can help reduce long-term risk for these conditions.

 
  1. World Health Organization: WHO & World Health Organization: WHO. (2025, February 7). Polycystic ovary syndrome. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome
  2. World Health Organization: WHO & World Health Organization: WHO. (2025, February 7). Polycystic ovary syndrome. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome
  3. American Medical Association & American Medical Association. (2025, September 26). What doctors wish patients knew about polycystic ovary syndrome. American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/population-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-polycystic-ovary-syndrome
  

Page reviewed by: K.Michael Schraff, MD, February 2026