What if pcos

Collections of 12 or more egg follicles or "cysts" on your ovaries that may be larger than normal. Your doctor will use an ultrasound to check for cysts. Women who don't have PCOS may also have cysts, but fewer than 12 don't meet the criteria for a diagnosis. Some women with PCOS may not have any cysts. PCOS can make getting pregnant difficult, so we give fertility medications to help. Q: What should I know going forward? Tags: Women's Health. Expert Advice. Popular Categories.

Popular Topics. Women's Health. Patient Stories. Make an Appointment. Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance. This means the body can't use insulin well. Insulin levels build up in the body and may cause higher androgen levels. Obesity can also increase insulin levels and make PCOS symptoms worse. Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and your symptoms.

You will also have a physical exam. This will likely include a pelvic exam. This exam checks the health of your reproductive organs, both inside and outside your body.

Some of the symptoms of PCOS are like those caused by other health problems. Because of this, you may also have tests such as:. This test uses sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs.

This test is used to look at the size of the ovaries and see if they have cysts. The test can also look at the thickness of the lining of the uterus endometrium. Blood tests. These look for high levels of androgens and other hormones. Your health care provider may also check your blood glucose levels. And you may have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked. Treatment for PCOS depends on a number of factors. These may include your age, how severe your symptoms are, and your overall health.

The type of treatment may also depend on whether you want to become pregnant in the future. Diagnosis Pelvic exam Open pop-up dialog box Close.

Pelvic exam During a pelvic exam, your doctor inserts two gloved fingers inside your vagina. Transvaginal ultrasound Open pop-up dialog box Close. Transvaginal ultrasound During a transvaginal ultrasound, your doctor or a medical technician inserts a wandlike device transducer into your vagina while you lie on your back on an exam table.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Lobo RA, et al. Polycystic ovary syndrome. In: Comprehensive Gynecology. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed April 28, Mayo Clinic; Barbieri RL, et al. Clinical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome in adults. Accessed April 27, Jameson JL, et al. Too much hair on the face, chin, or parts of the body where men usually have hair. This is called "hirsutism. What causes PCOS?

Most experts think that several factors, including genetics, play a role: High levels of androgens. Androgens are sometimes called "male hormones," although all women make small amounts of androgens.

Androgens control the development of male traits, such as male-pattern baldness. Women with PCOS have more androgens than normal. Higher than normal androgen levels in women can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg ovulation during each menstrual cycle, and can cause extra hair growth and acne, two signs of PCOS. High levels of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls how the food you eat is changed into energy.

Insulin resistance is when the body's cells do not respond normally to insulin. As a result, your insulin blood levels become higher than normal. Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance, especially those who have overweight or obesity, have unhealthy eating habits, do not get enough physical activity, and have a family history of diabetes usually type 2 diabetes.

Over time, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes. Is PCOS linked to other health problems? More than half of women with PCOS will have diabetes or prediabetes glucose intolerance before the age of High blood pressure. High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke.

Learn more about heart disease and stroke. Unhealthy cholesterol. High cholesterol raises your risk of heart disease and stroke. Sleep apnea. This is when momentary and repeated stops in breathing interrupt sleep. Many women with PCOS have overweight or obesity, which can cause sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea raises your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety are common among women with PCOS. Endometrial cancer. Problems with ovulation, obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes all common in women with PCOS increase the risk of developing cancer of the endometrium lining of the uterus or womb.

Will my PCOS symptoms go away at menopause? How is PCOS diagnosed? To help diagnose PCOS and rule out other causes of your symptoms, your doctor may talk to you about your medical history and do a physical exam and different tests: Physical exam.

Your doctor will measure your blood pressure, body mass index BMI , and waist size. They will also look at your skin for extra hair on your face, chest or back, acne, or skin discoloration. Your doctor may look for any hair loss or signs of other health conditions such as an enlarged thyroid gland.

Pelvic exam. Your doctor may do a pelvic exam for signs of extra male hormones for example, an enlarged clitoris and check to see if your ovaries are enlarged or swollen.