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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects somewhere between 5 and 10% of women of reproductive age.
The cysts mentioned in the title are actually tiny and look like black dots on the ovary when viewed by ultrasound. They are actually eggs that have failed to mature and be released from the ovary.
The condition, which often starts at puberty, has a number of diagnostic symptoms which may be present in different combinations and numbers:
- Infertility or reduced fertility
- Polycystic Ovaries
- Irregular or Absent Menstrual periods
- Hirsuitism (excessive hair growth on chest, tummy and face)
- Obesity
A woman may also have polycystic ovaries but not suffer from PCOS and a woman suffering from PCOS may not actually have polycystic ovaries.
PCOS happens when the ovaries overproduce androgens or male hormones e.g. testosterone.
Treatment is available from both natural therapies and conventional medicine.