Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects about one in 10 women of childbearing age and can impair fertility.1 Its primary feature is multiple cysts on the ovaries that lead to a cluster of symptoms including irregular menstrual cycles, acne, hirsutism (excess hair growth on the face and/or body), weight gain, and trouble sleeping. Women with PCOS may also experience metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and hypertension. PCOS may also increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and endometrial cancer.1

Understanding PCOS

A healthcare provider discussing test results with a patient
What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?
Adult woman having a visit at female doctor's office
6 Things No One Tells You about PCOS
A person making a salad in a kitchen
Does PCOS Go Away After Menopause?
Woman using acne cleaning pad to wash face.
High Androgens: PCOS and Other Causes

Symptoms

A person holding tampons and pads at a store
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Symptoms
Things only women with PCOS will know
Do I Have PCOS? 9 Signs
A woman experiencing stomach or abdominal pain
How Ovarian Cyst Pain Feels: Signs and When to Worry
Woman shaving her face in mirror
Can PCOS Be the Cause of My Excess Facial Hair?
Hair loss.Hands holding a comb full of hair fallen
Hair Loss and PCOS: What You Can Do

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What causes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

    Researchers don’t know the exact cause of PCOS, but an endocrine system imbalance, genetics, autoimmune disease, insulin imbalance, and environmental factors like endocrine disruptors may contribute. Lifestyle factors that lead to insulin resistance, including being sedentary and eating an unhealthy diet, increase a woman’s risk of PCOS.

    Learn More Causes and Risk Factors of PCOS
  • How is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treated?

    There is no cure for PCOS, but its symptoms can be managed with weight loss, home remedies, and medication. Birth control pills help to regulate menstrual cycles. Insulin sensitivity can be improved with the drug metformin, as well as exercise, diet, and weight loss. Over-the-counter remedies can be used to treat acne and excessive facial hair. A surgical procedure known as ovarian drilling is also sometimes recommended.

    Learn More How (PCOS) Is Treated
  • How is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosed?

    PCOS often goes undiagnosed until a woman has difficulty conceiving. A gynecologist will diagnose PCOS based on your symptom history, a physical exam, and lab work to test hormone levels, such as testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, and anti-Mullerian hormone. The presence of multiple ovarian cysts are confirmed through pelvic exam and ultrasound.

    Learn More How PCOS Is Diagnosed
  • How can I lose weight with PCOS?

    Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can make it difficult to lose weight due to hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance. Following the PCOS diet, which focuses on whole grains, high fiber fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, lean protein, nuts, and healthy fats, along with getting regular exercise can help women with PCOS to lose weight and improve their symptoms.

    Learn More The Best Diet for Managing PCOS Symptoms
  • How can I get pregnant with PCOS?

    Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can make getting pregnant difficult. Some women find lifestyle changes, such as losing weight through diet and exercise, can help. Other women may need fertility treatments to get pregnant. This includes drugs like Clomid, Femara, and gonadotropins, and assisted reproductive technology like intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

    Learn More An Overview of PCOS & Infertility

Diagnosis

A person sitting at a healthcare visit with a healthcare provider with a clipboard
PCOS Diagnosis: Patient Info and How to Get Tested
Nurse taking blood from patient, close up
What Lab Tests Diagnose PCOS?
Female doctor and patient talking in exam room
Why Doctors Need to Rule out Other Causes Before Diagnosing PCOS
Female physiotherapist using ultrasound machine on client in clinic examination room
Can PCOS Be Diagnosed With a Transvaginal Ultrasound?

Treatment

USA, New Jersey, Doctor talking to patient in office
How Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Is Treated
Woman discussing product with pharmacist in drugstore
Types of Drugs Used to Treat PCOS
Customer giving prescription to pharmacist in pharmacy
Using Birth Control to Treat PCOS
Inositol for PCOS, and illustration of a person taking a supplement
What to Know About Taking Inositol for PCOS
Female doctor using digital tablet in consultation
Should You See a Specialist for PCOS?
Stepping onto weighing scales
Types of Weight Loss Surgery for PCOS

Key Terms

  • Androgens

    Androgens are sex hormones found in both men and women that are vital for reproductive health, emotional wellbeing, cognitive function, lean muscle tissue growth, and bone strength. Androgens include testosterone, androsterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Women with PCOS have higher than normal levels of androgens, a condition known as hyperandrogenism.2

    Androgens and PCOS
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

    FSH is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates an egg follicle to grow each month during the menstrual cycle. Women with polycystic ovary disease have low levels of FSH and do not ovulate on a monthly basis.3

    How FSH Helps Fertility Treatments
  • Hirsutism

    Excessive facial and body hair is known as hirsutism. A common symptom of PCOS, women with hirsutism will often experience excess hair growth on the face, neck, chest, back, and toes. Many women with hirsutism use home remedies like shaving, waxing, and depilatory and bleaching creams to remove unwanted hair.4

    Treating Hirsutism in Women With PCOS
  • Insulin Resistance

    Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition where the body does not respond properly to insulin, a hormone that helps glucose enter cells to be stored for energy. In IR, the pancreas produces enough insulin, but the cells are resistant to it, resulting in high blood sugar levels. IR is common in women with PCOS. Exercise helps to improve insulin sensitivity.5

    The Link Between PCOS and Insulin Resistance
  • Ovarian Cyst

    Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs similar to blisters that form on the ovaries. During the process of ovulation, a cyst-like structure called a follicle forms inside the ovary. The mature follicle ruptures when the egg is released during ovulation. Sometimes the process does not conclude appropriately, resulting in an ovarian cyst.2

    What Are Ovarian Cysts?
  • Progesterone

    Progesterone is a female sex hormone produced by the ovaries following ovulation. Women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly, resulting in a lack of progesterone and an imbalance of hormones in the ovaries. Progesterone is essential for a healthy pregnancy and is believed to influence the immune system to protect against miscarriage.6

    An Overview of the Hormone Progesterone

Living With PCOS

Plate with eggs, pork, salmon, and steak
The Best Diet for Managing PCOS Symptoms
Excited couple looking at pregnancy test
How to Boost Your Chances of Getting Pregnant When You Have PCOS
The female reproductive system.
How to Know If You Are Ovulating With PCOS
Fatigued woman leaning up against tree after workout
Why It's So Hard to Lose Weight With PCOS
Best Exercises for PCOS
The Best Exercises for PCOS

Complications

Woman laying in bed with period cramps
Discover Why Women With PCOS Often Have Irregular Periods
Adult woman checks for acne in mirror
Does PCOS Cause Acne?
A woman talking to her doctor
Symptoms and Screening of Insulin Resistance With PCOS
Pregnant woman holding her stomach
Does Your PCOS Diagnosis Mean You Are at Higher Risk for Miscarriage?
A person's feet on a scale with the number replaced with HELP! (Common Causes of Unexplained Weight Gain and Fatigue)
Unexplained Weight Gain and Fatigue: Underlying Conditions
woman having an Ultrasound scan.
Fluid in Anterior or Posterior Cul-de-Sac
Woman asking nurse a question
PCOS and Anti-Müllerian Hormone
Irregular periods and PCOS
Does PCOS Always Cause Irregular Periods?
Dehidroepiandrosterona
DHEAS Hormone Function and PCOS
Kidneys and adrenal glands, illustration
An Overview of Cushing's Syndrome
Teenage girl holding her abdomen
How to Manage PCOS as a Teen
I'll see you next week for another check up
Symptoms and Treatment of Hyperprolactinemia
a woman holding birth control pills
Late-Onset Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Symptoms and Treatment
Blood test tubes
Symptoms of High Prolactin Levels
perinium illustration
The Importance of the Perineum in Childbirth
woman patient talking with doctor
Estrogen Dominance in Women With PCOS
Illustration of the steps of ovulation: a primordial follicle grows and matures, before being released by the ovary into the fallopian tube.
Understanding the Function of Ovaries
Female doctor checking patient's neck
The Potential Link Between PCOS and Hypothyroidism
no period pcos
No Period Because of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?
Woman with ovarian cyst pain
Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts
Woman getting her blood pressure taken
High Blood Pressure and PCOS
A child with parents at breakfast table
Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Genetic?
Egg storage for IVF
Should You Freeze Your Eggs If You Have PCOS?
Woman holding fertility test stick
How to Use Ovulation Tests When You Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Expectant mother in hospital labour ward
Why Fertility Patients Need to Take Estrogen During IVF Cycle
In vitro fertilization
Things to Know Before You Start Monitoring During an IVF Cycle
Woman giving herself an insulin shot
How to Administer a Subcutaneous Injection
Doctor talking to female patient
Pregnancy Complications Associated With PCOS
human chorionic gonadotropin injection
HCG Injections During Fertility Treatments
A person is examined by a healthcare provider
Hyperandrogenism: Everything You Need to Know
A patient listening to a doctor
Why You May Not Know You Have PCOS Until Adulthood
Close up of scientists hands selecting a blood sample for medical testing
The Meaning of PCOS Lab Results
Person using a lancet device to draw blood from finger for home testosterone test kit
Taking a Testosterone Test to Know Your Levels
A woman eating a salad at the table
Tips for Eating Healthier at Restaurants for Women With PCOS
Hands Of A Girl With Harvested Vegetable
Is a Low-Carb Diet Beneficial for PCOS?
Breakfast of Oatmeal and Coffee
9 Low Glycemic Breakfast Ideas to Try
USA, New Jersey, Jersey City, Woman standing on scale
Weight Loss Surgery for PCOS
Plate of veggies, dark chocolate and apples with peanut butter
Low Glycemic Index Diet Snack and Dessert Ideas
Multiple sources of protein sitting on a table
Why Protein Is Important in a PCOS Diet
Womens Gym Fitness Class Using Weights
Benefits of Exercising When You Have PCOS
woman cooking vegetables in a pan
Easy Low-Glycemic Index Dinner Ideas
Baked salmon with lemon on top
5 Foods That Lower Testosterone in Women With PCOS
Bowl of apples, peaches, strawberries, and grapes
4 Facts About Healthy Eating With PCOS
Woman pouring vitamin D capsules into her hand
3 Reasons to Take Vitamin D If You Have PCOS
Plate of fruit
Is Fruit Bad for PCOS?
Lentils
Why the DASH Diet Is Good for PCOS
A spread of food on a cutting board
Carbohydrates and Their Role in Nutrition for PCOS
Woman drinking water
The Importance of Water With PCOS
Woman eating a cupcake
7 Tips to Prevent PCOS Food Cravings
Metformin ER 500 mg tablets in front of a bottle of the medication
Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin, According to a Pharmacist
Turmeric powder and fresh turmeric
Supplements for PCOS
Different natural treatments for ovarian cysts
Ovarian Cyst Treatments and Self-Care
A surgeon looking at an operating table
What You Need to Know About Ovarian Cyst Surgery
Woman holding a pill
NAC for PCOS
Vitamin bottle tipped over onto table
What You Should Know About Metformin and Vitamin B12
A woman administering an injection
What Are the Best Intramuscular (IM) Injection Sites?
An illustration of someone giving themself an intramuscular injection of progesterone in oil
Intramuscular Injections of Progesterone in Oil
Young woman holding vitamin pill and glass of water, cropped
Taking Fish Oil for PCOS
berberine pcos
Berberine for PCOS: Benefits and Side Effects
woman having a red allergic reaction on her thigh
Injection Side Effects and When to Seek Medical Help
Woman dumping egg whites into a glass bowl
What Cervical Discharge Tells You About Fertility
A pack of birth control pills
Can Spotting on Birth Control Be a Sign of Pregnancy?
Woman getting a shot in her upper arm
Provera Uses and Side Effects
Pregnant woman with her cat on the bed
Letrozole for Treating Infertility in Women With PCOS
Page Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Updated April 1, 2019.

  2. US Department of Health and Human Services. Office on Women’s Health. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Updated April 01, 2019.

  3. NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Polycystic ovary syndrome.

  4. Spritzer PM, Barone CR, Oliveira FB. Hirsutism in polycystic ovary syndrome: pathophysiology and management. Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(36):5603-5613. doi:10.2174/1381612822666160720151243

  5. Moghetti P. Insulin Resistance and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(36):5526-5534. doi:10.2174/1381612822666160720155855

  6. Reed BG, Carr BR. The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation. Endotext. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc. 2018.

Additional Reading