Medical Health Encyclopedia

Polycystic ovary disease

Insulin resistance also seems to be a key feature in polycystic ovarian syndrome. In addition to other hormones, insulin helps regulate ovarian function. When someone is insulin resistant, this means that cells throughout the body do not readily respond to insulin circulating in the blood. For this reason, the amount of insulin remains high in the blood (called hyperinsulinemia). High levels of insulin can contribute to lack of ovulation, high androgen levels, infertility, and early pregnancy loss.

Polycystic ovaries are two to five times larger than normal ovaries, and they have a white, thick, tough outer covering. Women are usually diagnosed when in their 20s or 30s.

Many women with polycystic ovary disease have irregular menses and may have scanty menstruation (oligomenorrhea) or no menses at all (amenorrhea).

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Women diagnosed with this disorder frequently have a mother or sister with similar symptoms commonly associated with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Conception is frequently possible with proper surgical or medical treatments. Following conception, pregnancy is usually uneventful.

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