PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age, according to the Hormone Foundation. Five to seven million women in the United States suffer from the condition. PCOS results in numerous cysts in the ovaries caused by abnormal hormone levels. There are various physical symptoms that can manifest as a result of these hormone levels.
Infertility
Infertility is the inability to become pregnant, and is a symptom of PCOS. The National Women's Health Information Center states that PCOS is the most common cause of infertility. The infertility from PCOS occurs because hormones needed to help an egg mature are not produced by the ovaries. A woman with PCOS does not ovulate, and the hormone progesterone is not produced.
Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance
Weight gain, especially around the waist, is a common symptom of PCOS, even if a woman has been reducing her calorie intake. The Mayo Clinic states that almost half of women with PCOS are obese, and women with PCOS are more likely to be overweight than their peers who do not have the condition. Many women with PCOS gain weight because of the link between PCOS and insulin resistance, according to Marcelle Pick and Marcy Holmes on the Women to Women site. Insulin resistance leads to higher levels of insulin in the blood, which may stimulate the development of ovarian cysts. This typically responds to changes in diet, vitamin supplementation and exercise.
Abnormal Androgen Levels
Androgens are male hormones, and when a woman has PCOS she produces excess androgen. The Mayo Clinic lists several symptoms that may occur as a result of these abnormal hormone levels, including facial hair, excess body hair, male-pattern baldness and acne. Not every woman with PCOS displays these symptoms, and physical manifestations of abnormal levels of androgens can vary according to your ethnicity.
Abnormal Menstrual Cycle
Because of the hormonal imbalances of PCOS, a woman with the condition typically does not have normal menstrual cycles. According to the Mayo Clinic, an abnormal menstrual cycle is the most common symptom of the condition. Abnormal menstrual cycles are defined as either periods longer than 35 days apart, less than eight periods per year, not having a period for four months or more, or periods that are very light or very heavy for a prolonged period of time.
