1. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
What is polycystic ovary syndrome?
Polycystic (literally, many cysts) ovary syndrome (PCOS or PCO) is a complex condition that affects the ovaries
(the organs in a woman's body that produce eggs).
In PCOS, the ovaries are bigger than average, and the outer surface of the ovary has an abnormally large
number of small follicles (the sac of fluid that grows around the egg under the influence of stimulating
hormones from the brain).
In PCOS, these follicles remain immature, never growing to full development or ovulating to produce an egg
capable of being fertilised. For the woman this means that she rarely ovulates (releases an egg) and so is less
fertile. In addition, she does not have regular periods and may go for many weeks without a period. Other
features of the condition are excess weight and excess body hair.
The condition is relatively common among infertile women and particularly common among women with
ovulation problems (an incidence of about 75 per cent). In the general population, around 25 per cent of
women will have polycystic ovaries seen on ultrasound examination but most have no other symptoms or signs
of PCOS and are perfectly healthy. The ultrasound appearance is also found in up to 14 per cent of women on
the contraceptive pill.
What causes PCOS?
While it is not known if women are born with this condition, PCOS seems to run in families. This means that
something that induces the condition is inheritable, and thus influenced by one or more genes.
Interestingly, when PCOS is passed down the man's side of the family, the men are not infertile, but they do
have a tendency to become bald early in life, before the age of 30. Ongoing research is trying to clarify whether
there is a clearly identifiable gene for PCOS. It seems likely that in the future one or two genes will be identified
that play a fundamental role in determining a woman's likelihood of developing this condition.
Even if PCOS has a genetic basis, it is likely that not all women with the gene or genes will develop the
condition. It is more likely to develop if there is a family history of diabetes (especially Type 2, the less severe
type usually controlled by tablets), or if there is early baldness in the men in the family.
Women are also more at risk if they are overweight. Maintaining weight or body mass index (BMI) below a
critical threshold is probably very important to determine whether some women develop the symptoms and
physical features of the condition. Just how much weight (or what level of BMI) is difficult to say because it will
be different for each individual. Certainly, for patients who are considered obese (with BMI greater than 30) or
overweight (BMI 25 to 30), weight loss improves the hormonal abnormalities and improves the likelihood of
ovulation and thus pregnancy.
Can PCOS be prevented?
If there is a genetic influence, then some people are more likely to get PCOS than others. However, it seems
likely that you cannot alter your predisposition to PCOS. There is no current proof of any benefit of preventative
weight loss, but the best advice for overall health is to maintain a normal weight or BMI, especially if you have
strong indicators that PCOS could affect you. These indicators are:
• a tendency in the family towards non-insulin dependent (Type 2) diabetes.
• a tendency towards early baldness in the men in the family (before 30 years of age).
• the knowledge that a close relative already has PCOS.
What are the symptoms?
The ways in which PCOS shows itself include:
• absent or infrequent periods (oligomenorrhoea): a common symptom of PCOS. Periods can be as
frequent as every five to six weeks, but might only occur once or twice a year, if at all.
• increased facial and body hair (hirsutism): usually found under the chin, on the upper lip, forearms,
lower legs and on the abdomen (usually a vertical line of hair up to the umbilicus).
• acne: usually found only on the face.
• infertility: infrequent or absent periods are linked with very occasional ovulation, which significantly
reduces the likelihood of conceiving.

2. • overweight/obesity: a common finding in women with PCOS because their body cells are resistant to
the sugar-control hormone insulin. This insulin resistance prevents cells using sugar in the blood
normally and the sugar is stored as fat instead.
• miscarriage (sometimes recurrent): one of the hormonal abnormalities in PCOS, a raised level of
luteinising hormone (LH - a hormone produced by the brain that affects ovary function), seems to be
linked with miscarriage. Women with raised LH have a higher miscarriage rate (65 per cent of
pregnancies end in miscarriage) compared with those who have normal LH values (around 12 per cent
miscarriage rate).
These symptoms are related to several internal changes.
• Hormonal abnormalities, including:
• raised luteinising hormone (LH) in the early part of the menstrual cycle.
• raised androgens (male hormones usually found in women in tiny amounts).
• lower amounts of the blood protein that carries all sex hormones (sex-hormone-binding
globulin).
• a small increase in the amount of insulin and cellular resistance to its actions.
• Characteristic changes in the appearance of the ovaries on ultrasound scan. The ovaries are
polycystic, with many small follicles scattered under the surface of the ovary (usually more than 10 or
15 in each ovary) and almost none in the middle of the ovary. These follicles are all small and
immature, generally do not exceed 10mm in size and rarely, if ever, grow to maturity and ovulate.
Most women with PCOS will have the ultrasound findings, whereas the menstrual cycle abnormalities are found
in around 66 per cent of women and obesity is found in 40 per cent. The increase in hair and acne are found in
up to 70 per cent whereas the hormone abnormalities are found in up to 50 per cent of women.
It is likely that there are different stages of the disease throughout life. Younger women tend to have
substantial difficulties with their periods, whereas older women have other problems such as diabetes and
hypertension (high blood pressure), though their period patterns tend to become more regular.
Women with PCOS also have an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks, but their death rate from these
conditions is not increased (Wild et al, 2000).
Women with PCOS may also have an increased risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the womb),
particularly if they have infrequent or absent periods.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
The diagnosis is based on the patient's symptoms and physical appearance. If the diagnosis seems likely
because the patient's history contains many of the symptoms described already, certain investigations are done
to provide confirmatory evidence or to indicate another cause for the symptoms.
These include:
• blood tests such as:
• female sex hormones (at a certain point in the cycle if possible)
• male sex hormones
• sex-hormone-binding globulin
• glucose
• thyroid function tests
• other hormones, eg prolactin.

3. • ultrasound examination.
Your own GP can do the initial blood investigations, ensuring they are carried out at the correct time of the
cycle if appropriate. Your GP may be able to arrange an ultrasound scan.
Once the diagnosis is made, nothing more needs to be done for some women, eg if their fertility is not an issue,
if their weight is within normal limits, and if they do not have excess body hair.
If any of the symptoms are an issue, then further advice and treatment, and possibly specialist referral is
needed.
What else could it be?
The other conditions likely to cause abnormal periods include raised levels of prolactin and of thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH). Both these hormones are produced from a particular part of the brain, the anterior
pituitary.
Raised prolactin levels can occur together with headaches and some disturbances of vision whereas raised TSH
levels indicate low thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism). Both these conditions lead to suppressed ovulation and
infertility.
Increased hair and acne reflect an increase in male hormones (androgens) in the blood. Other conditions can
cause such an increase.
Rarely, adrenal disorders or tumours cause increased androgens. In these conditions, hirsutism usually
develops quite rapidly; previously normal periods may also stop and, occasionally, muscle weakness occurs.
Loss of, or changes in, female aspects of body shape and appearance (secondary sexual characteristics),
especially reduction in breast size, may also occur. As the androgen excess progresses, the voice can deepen
and the clitoris can increase in size (clitoromegaly). If these serious medical disorders are present, the male
hormone levels will be considerably increased, way above those found in PCOS, and specialist treatment should
be arranged.
What can you do for PCOS?
There are several things that an individual can do if they have a tendency towards developing some or all of the
elements of PCOS. Much of this involves lifestyle changes to ensure that your weight is kept within normal
limits (BMI between 19 and 25).
In addition, because there is a likelihood of developing diabetes in later life and a slightly higher risk of heart
disease, low-fat and low-sugar options should be considered when making choices about what to eat or to
drink.
Weight loss, or maintaining weight below a certain level, will have the short-term benefit of increasing the
likelihood of successful treatment and the long-term benefits of reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease
(Galtier-Dereure et al, 1997).
What can your doctor do?
Your family doctor will be able to provide many of the drug treatments available (although these are probably
best taken in consultation with a specialist). Treatments aim to improve several aspects of PCOS, including:
• fertility, via the stimulation of ovulation
• reduction of the insulin resistance
• reduction of the increased hair.
Treatments
The range of treatments available and their application are listed in Tables 1 and 2.
Table 1 deals with the treatments for improving fertility in women with PCOS (Homberg, 1998; Pirwany et al,
1999; Farquhar et al, 2000; Hughes et al, 2000a; Hughes et al, 2000b; Hughes et al, 2000c).
Table 2 deals with the treatments for other features of PCOS including hirsutism, irregular or absent periods
and obesity. The evidence in favour of using of these medications to improve symptoms is not strong (Lee et al,
2000).

4. Table 1: Treatments to improve fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Drug and mode of action Benefits Risks Effects on life quality
Clomifene (eg Clomid): Effective method to achieve 1. Very low risk of ovarian 1. Simple easy method of
mild stimulant of ovarian ovulation. hyperstimulation syndrome. treatment with tablets to be
function (Hughes et al, taken by mouth, for five days
2000a). each month.
2. Possible risk of multiple 2. Minimal effects while taking
pregnancy if several mature follicles tablets, though some develop
develop. headaches.
3. Increased risk of ovarian 3. Obvious benefit if pregnancy
tumours in women having more ensues (pregnancy also lowers
than 12 cycles of treatment. the increased risk of ovarian
tumour back to that of the normal
population).
Gonadotrophin injections: Ovulation rates of over 90 per 1. Ovarian hyperstimulation 1. Require daily injections of hMG
direct stimulation of the cent in most women and syndrome. or FSH derived from urine or
ovarian follicles to grow. pregnancy rates of 20-25 per recombinant FSH (Hughes et al,
cent per cycle. 2000c).
2. Multiple pregnancy if many 2. Several studies suggest the
mature follicles develop. benefits of taking a second drug
in conjunction. This should
suppress LH and improves the
chances of an ongoing pregnancy.
Metformin (eg Improves the uptake of sugars No significant associated risk. Considerable gastrointestinal
Glucophage): many into cells by insulin. Ovulation upset reported - particularly
actions - eg reduction of rates up to 90 per cent of diarrhoea - which is somewhat
male steroid production by cycles (Pirwany et al, 1999, improved by reducing the daily
the ovaries. Galtier-Dereure et al, 1997). dose.
Gonadotrophin releasing Lowers LH concentrations and Needs to be used in conjunction .
hormone agonists: reduces the likelihood of with FSH injections and therefore all
stimulate the release of miscarriage (Homberg, 1998, the above risks also are present.
natural sex hormones from Hughes et al, 2000b). GnRH agonists themselves have
the brain. little risk in short-term use.
Table 2: Treatments for other features of polycystic ovary syndrome
PCOS feature Available treatment Comments
Raised androgen Metformin (eg Glucophage) 1. Metformin reduces the abnormal findings of raised androgens and
(male sex decreased sex-hormone binding protein in the blood, but it can cause
hormone) level considerable gastrointestinal upset - particularly diarrhoea - which is
somewhat improved by reducing the daily dose. It is less effective in women
of normal weight and does not improve hirsutism.
Irregular periods Metformin 1. Return of periods in 90-95 per cent of women.
Obesity Metformin 1. Several studies have examined the effect on weight loss; the majority
support its effectiveness.
Hirsutism Combined oral contraceptives, 1. These increase the levels of the sex hormone carrier in the blood, leaving
especially containing the anti- less androgen free to cause hirsutism.
androgen cyproterone acetate (eg 2. It may take six months before any noticeable improvement occurs and two
Dianette). to three years to achieve the maximum benefit from anti-androgens because
of the length of the growth-cycle of hair.
Hirsutism Finasteride 1. Finasteride reduces the amount of hair by preventing androgen getting into
cells. It can cause headache and depression, and contraception is essential to
avoid accidental exposure to a foetus. It is useful as a second-line drug for
the treatment of excess hair but is not licensed for this purpose, and some
pharmacies have made inappropriate comments to my patients when filling
prescriptions, affecting their likelihood of taking the treatment.
Endometrial Progestogens, 1. Stops endometrium (womb lining) from developing, and counteracts any
cancer (cancer of medroxyprogesterone acetate. tendency towards cell abnormalities and cancer. Occasional bloating and fluid
the womb lining) retention occur.
The increased risk of endometrial cancer is thought to be due to certain hormonal abnormalities that result in
continuous stimulation of the lining of the womb by oestrogen. However, the mild increase in insulin found in
these women may also have negative effects.
It does seem sensible to advise women with absent or very infrequent periods to take occasional progestogen
therapy to 'oppose' the oestrogen and minimise the risk of endometrial cancer.
Non-drug treatments
Ovarian diathermy (surgery that uses heat to alter ovarian function) is thought to reduce the amount of
androgen secreting tissue in the ovaries, leading to resumption of ovulation in up to 80 per cent of women. The
risks include those of having a laparoscopy and a theoretical risk of ovarian damage from the diathermy. The
benefits include resumption of ovulation in a simple manner, with effects lasting six to nine months (Farquhar
et al, 2000; Homberg, 1998).
There is a range of non-drug treatments available for hirsutism. Once a serious increase in male hormone levels
has been excluded, then local cosmetic options can safely be considered. These include:

5. • bleaching
• depilatory preparations
• waxing
• plucking
• laser hair removal
• electrolysis
• shaving.
Each is usually effective but expert advice should be taken, because each method has its own problems.
Bleaching and depilatory preparations can occasionally cause a local allergic reaction.
Waxing and plucking often break the hair shaft rather than actually remove it from the hair follicle and,
therefore, should be considered to be little more effective than shaving.
Electrolysis and laser hair removal usually give the most prolonged action but both are expensive and cannot
tackle large areas of the skin. Electrolysis is painful and laser removal may not be permanent.
Damage to skin or follicles can also occur with either. Waxing, plucking and shaving can lead to inflammation
and infection of hair follicles, requiring topical antibiotic creams.
Sugaring is less likely to provoke this result than waxing. Best results will be obtained from shaving if
hypoallergenic shaving soaps and razors are used. There is no evidence that plucking, waxing or shaving will
encourage increased hair growth.
What is the outlook?
Living with PCOS means different things for different women. This is because women experience the condition
in different ways and have more or less severe symptoms depending on their situation. In addition, as women
get older, some symptoms change with age; hirsutism become less as hair distribution patterns change with
advancing age and as the male hormones in the blood revert to more normal levels (Winters et al, 2000).
Women with PCOS are more prone to some serious conditions. These include an increase in the likelihood of
developing diabetes (usually Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes) and of developing cancer of the
womb lining (endometrial cancer).
They also are more at risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol, though if weight is
controlled, high blood pressure is less likely to occur (Wild et al, 2000). Therefore, it makes sense to watch for
symptoms suggestive of these conditions and to see your doctor should any suspicious symptoms be present.
For endometrial cancer, these include irregular spotting or bleeding in the 40 to 50 year age group or any
bleeding after themenopause. For diabetes, these include unusual thirst requiring large amounts of fluids,
tiredness, and passage of increased amounts of urine, particularly at night.
References
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Galtier-Dereure F, Pujol P et al (1997). quot;Choice of stimulation in polycystic ovarian syndrome: the influence of obesity. Hum Reprod 1997; 12 (Suppl 1):
88-96.
Homberg R (1998). Adverse effects of luteinizing hormone on fertility. London: Balliere Tindall, 1998.
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