Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that affects the way the ovaries work. It’s a very common condition, affecting up to 1 in 10 people in the UK, but more than half of those with PCOS will never experience any symptoms.
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects ovarian function. It can cause a varied range of symptoms, or none at all, and can also affect your fertility, making it more difficult to fall pregnant.
As well as being one of the most common causes of infertility in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB), PCOS can also increase your risk of other health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and endometrial cancer, so it’s important to seek diagnosis and treatment as soon as you can.
The exact cause of PCOS isn’t clear, but the condition sometimes runs in families. Several other factors are also known to contribute to an increased risk of having PCOS, including:
The symptoms of PCOS vary from person to person, and some people will experience severe symptoms, some may have a few mild symptoms, and others will have no symptoms at all.
The most common signs and symptoms that can indicate PCOS are:
A diagnosis of PCOS can usually be made if you experience at least 2 of the following 3 symptoms:
PCOS cannot be cured or reversed, but there’s a lot that can be done to reduce and mitigate your symptoms to improve your overall health and fertility.
At OneWelbeck, our consultant endocrinologists will perform a detailed assessment of your symptoms and develop a personalised management plan to suit you and your needs. This could include contraceptive pills, medications to target certain symptoms, lifestyle changes or surgery.
For more information, Professor Maralyn Druce, takes a closer look at the condition.
At Welbeck, our gynaecologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure you receive the best possible treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Get in touch today to book an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
Yes, it’s absolutely possible to get pregnant if you have PCOS. The condition can make conceiving more challenging for some women, but there are many non-invasive treatment options available to help boost the chances of having a baby.
If left untreated, PCOS can lead to health complications including infertility, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, sleep apnoea, psychological disorders, pregnancy complications, cancer and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Yes, PCOS can impact your mental health. Recent studies have found that those with the condition are 4 to 7 times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, and 3 to 6 times more likely to experience disordered eating. For most people, symptoms like excess facial hair and acne can also cause low self-esteem and confidence, really impacting their relationships and quality of life.
It’s possible to have polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) on ultrasound, but not have PCOS. PCOM describes ovaries that contain a larger number of small, undeveloped follicles. These fluid-filled sacs hold immature eggs and do not cause pelvic pain. Despite the name, PCOM is not cysts at all. PCOM is a completely normal feature in all teenagers within 8 years of menarche (the very first period appearing with puberty) and this is why ultrasound cannot diagnose PCOS until 8 years after menarche). PCOM can also be found in various hormonal conditions.
PCOS is a hormonal condition that may sometimes show PCOM features. Having PCOM does not diagnose PCOS, as it is not a reliable and consistent finding of PCOS. Diagnosis of PCOS should be confirmed by a specialist to allow for safe and effective treatment of symptoms and to improve overall health.
Causes
Irregular periods, excess hair growth, acne
Symptoms
Symptoms
Tests
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Treatments
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We have brought together a group of leading Consultant Endocrinologists to form our Endocrinology team. With a huge depth of experience covering diabetes, adrenal disorders, metabolic syndrome and much more, these expert clinicians are the best in their field and are all focused on delivering the very best patient care.