Polycystic ovary syndrome is a disorder that occurs among women of reproductive age and is caused by the overproduction of male hormones called androgens. Excessive androgens interfere with ovulation, causing cysts to form on the ovaries, irregular menstrual periods, infertility, acne and abnormal hair growth. There are many treatments available for polycystic ovary syndrome, ranging from prescription medications that regulate the menstrual cycle to surgery to lifestyle modifications.
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills may be prescribed to help women regulate their menstrual cycles. According to the Mayo Clinic, birth control pills containing a combination of both synthetic estrogen and progesterone will decrease the amount of androgens in your body, thereby helping to clear acne and reduce unwanted hair growth. These types of oral contraceptives not only control monthly bleeding, but also lower your risk for developing endometrial cancer.
Other types of birth control pills containing only progesterone will also help regulate your period; however, they do not lower androgen production and therefore will not help with acne or body hair.
Fertility Treatments
Several types of fertility treatments are available for women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The National Women's Health Information Center advises that, to stimulate ovulation, the oral fertility medication clomiphene citrate may be given. If unsuccessful, another oral fertility drug called metformin may be administered along with clomiphene citrate. If oral fertility treatments fail, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone drugs called gonadotropins may be given in injection form by a doctor, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The most effective but expensive fertility treatment alternative is in vitro fertilization--a procedure in which a woman's egg and a man's sperm are joined in a laboratory dish and inseminated into the woman.
Each of these fertility treatments may to varying degrees increase the risk of multiple births.
Hair Growth Treatments
Pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments are available to help treat abnormal hair growth or loss of hair on the scalp. Over-the-counter depilatory and shaving or waxing creams may be used every few weeks. Electrolysis--a procedure performed by a doctor or aesthetician that uses electrical current to destroy hair follicles--may provide more long-term results, according to the Mayo Clinic.
An oral prescription medication called spironolactone also reduces hair growth by blocking the effects of androgens, according to the National Women's Health Information Center. It can, however, cause birth defects so women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should not take spironolactone. Another oral anti-androgen drug that may be prescribed for women suffering from loss of scalp hair is called finasteride. These medications are commonly prescribed with birth control medications to reduce the risk of pregnancy.
Eflornithine is a topical cream shown to slow the growth of facial hair in women, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Surgery
Surgery may be performed on women who want to get pregnant and for whom other medical and lifestyle treatments have failed. The procedure--called laparoscopic ovarian drilling--involves using an electrical current delivered via a small instrument through a small incision in the abdomen to destroy follicles on the ovaries. When the follicles are destroyed, androgen levels decrease and ovulation may be induced. According to The National Women's Health Information Center, this surgery may need to be repeated after a few months and is not effective in treating symptoms of hair growth.
Lifestyle Modifications
Lifestyle modifications may be particularly effective for women who are overweight, obese or who have diabetes or problems with insulin resistance, as these factors can worsen polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, having regular checkups to monitor cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and weight, getting regular exercise and consulting with a dietitian to develop a plan for healthy eating may help to stabilize the body's hormone levels. According to the National Women's Health Information Center, even losing 10 percent of your body mass can restore and regulate your menstrual cycle.
