Polycystic ovary syndrome is a medical condition that can affect women and causes small, fluid-filled sacs (cysts) to form within a woman's ovaries. Symptoms of this condition result from imbalanced hormone levels within the body and can include irregular menstrual periods, acne, weight gain, excess hair growth or lower abdominal pain.
Infertility
The most common long-term side effect of polycystic ovary syndrome is infertility, explain Drs. Hunter and Sterrett in a Sept. 1, 2000, article in the journal "American Family Physician." During a healthy woman's menstrual cycle, her body's hormone levels naturally fluctuate and stimulate the release of an egg from the ovary. If this egg is fertilized by male sperm, a woman becomes pregnant. An egg that remains unfertilized leaves a woman's body during her monthly menstrual period. Polycystic ovarian syndrome interferes with the way in which eggs are released from a woman's ovaries. If an egg is not released from an ovary due to this condition, a woman cannot become pregnant.
Hypertension
In the long-term, polycystic ovary syndrome increases a woman's risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension), explain health professionals at the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association, Inc. Blood pressure is the amount of force your heart exerts to push blood through your body. High blood pressure levels can damage the delicate walls of your blood vessels and veins, which may increase your risk of developing heart disease or blood clots. If you have polycystic ovary syndrome, your doctor may want to monitor your blood pressure levels and may encourage you to participate in a regular exercise routine.
High Cholesterol
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome can develop high cholesterol as a long-term effect of this condition. High cholesterol levels may increase your risk of developing additional medical problems, such as heart attack or stroke. Drs. Hunter and Sterrett report that at least 70 percent of women with polycystic ovary syndrome also develop obesity as a symptom of this disease, which can further increase risks of heart disease.
Type 2 Diabetes
Polycystic ovary syndrome can cause your body to produce excess amounts of certain hormones, such as androgens or insulin. Over the long term, high levels of insulin can cause your body to become resistant or intolerant to the effects of this hormone. When this occurs, you can develop excessively high sugar levels within your blood---a medical condition known as type 2 diabetes. Women with type 2 diabetes are also at an increased risk of developing medical complications involving the nerves, eyes, heart or kidneys.
