By Dr. Robert Weiss, a fertility specialist at the Fertility Centers of New England and in Progyny’s Provider Network, article in Medium.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an important medical condition that has both metabolic and reproductive impact. PCOS is extremely common and affects one in 10 women of reproductive age; however, various studies put the percentage of impacted women at eight to 13%. Despite its name, PCOS is not primarily a problem in the ovaries but a lack of proper communication between the brain and the ovaries. Insulin resistance or pre-diabetes also seems to play a major role in most cases of PCOS.
This syndrome has been studied for over 75 years and yet some of the causes of the syndrome remain not well understood. Most common presentations are irregular menses and abnormal hair growth, or acne caused by elevated testosterone levels in women. There are many misconceptions about PCOS which I hope to explore in depth here. These are the questions or statements that I commonly hear from my patients with PCOS.
To read the full story, click here.