Polycystic ovary disease

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Endocrine glands	Female reproductive anatomy	Follicle development	Pelvic laparoscopy
Stein-Leventhal syndrome	Uterus

Polycystic ovaries; Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS); Stein-Leventhal syndrome; Polyfollicular ovarian disease.

Medications used to treat the symptoms of polycystic ovary disease include birth control pills, spironolactone, flutamide, and clomiphene citrate. Treatment with clomiphene induces the pituitary gland to produce more FSH, which in turn stimulates maturity and release of the eggs. Occasionally, more potent ovulation-induction medications (fertility drugs, human menopausal gonadotropins) are needed to achieve pregnancy.

Weight reduction, which may be very difficult, may help to reduce the elevated insulin levels in the blood in patients with this disease. For those with polycystic ovaries who are overweight, weight loss can reduce insulin resistance, stimulate ovulation, and improve fertility rates. Sometimes, part of the treatment for polycystic ovaries is use of medications that make cells more sensitive to insulin, like metformin or one of the thiazolidinedione medications, such as pioglitazone or rosiglitazone.

Pregnancy may be achieved with appropriate treatment.

• Sterility
• Obesity-related conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes
• Increased the risk of endometrial cancer -- this is because the endometrium (lining of the uterine wall that sheds when you menstruate) can get thicker and thicker (hyperplasia) due to the lack of ovulation
• Possible increased risk of breast cancer

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you are experiencing the symptoms of this disorder.

Review Date: 05/12/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.