What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Women with PCOS can have a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms, from very mild to severe. They may include: • Irregular or absent menstrual periods. • Heavy vaginal bleeding. Ovaries make progesterone for two weeks following ovulation. At the end of that two weeks, the progesterone level drops and the lining of the uterus sheds. This is a normal period. If a woman does not ovulate, she will not make progesterone. The lining of the uterus can become thick, the cells making up the lining can become crowded (a condition known as hyperplasia, which can lead to uterine cancer), and the woman can experience very heavy and prolonged bleeding. • Oily skin and acne. • Acanthosis nigricans. Darkening and thickening of certain areas of the skin, especially in skin folds. • Excessive hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, or thighs. • Thinning of hair on the crown of the head. • Type 2 diabetes. • Obesity. • Cardiovascular problems, including high cholesterol. • Multiple tiny ovarian cysts. Some
