Symptoms due to high male hormone level in women, including irregular, heavy, or no periods, excess body and facial hair, acne, pelvic pain, trouble conceiving, and patches of thick, darker, velvety skin.Encyclopedia Entry for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome :Polycystic ovary syndrome. PCOS is linked to changes in hormone levels that make it harder for the ovaries to release fully-grown (mature) eggs. The reasons for these changes are unclear. The hormones affected are: Estrogen and progesterone, the female hormones that help a woman's ovaries release eggs Androgen, a male hormone that is found in small amounts in women Normally, one or more eggs are released during a woman's cycle. This is known as ovulation. In most cases, this release of eggs occurs about 2 weeks after the start of a menstrual period. In PCOS, mature eggs are not released. Instead, they stay in the ovaries with a small amount of fluid (cyst) around them. There can be many of these. However, not all women with the condition will have ovaries with this appearance. These problems with the release of eggs can contribute to infertility. The other symptoms of this disorder are due to the high levels of male hormones. Most of the time, PCOS is diagnosed in women in their 20s or 30s. However, it may also affect teenage girls. The symptoms often begin when a girl's periods start. Women with this disorder often have a mother or sister who has similar symptoms.Symptoms of PCOS include changes in the menstrual cycle, such as: Not getting a period after you have had one or more normal ones during puberty ( secondary amenorrhea ) Irregular periods that may come and go, and be very light to very heavy Other symptoms of PCOS include: Extra body hair that grows on the chest, belly, face, and around the nipples Acne on the face, chest, or back Skin changes, such as dark or thick skin markings and creases around the armpits, groin, neck, and breasts The development of male characteristics is not typical of PCOS and may indicate another problem. The following changes may indicate another problem apart from PCOS: Thinning hair on the head at the temples, called male pattern baldness Enlargement of the clitoris Deepening of the voice Decrease in breast size.Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. This will include a pelvic exam. The exam may show: Enlarged ovaries with many small cysts noted on ultrasound Enlarged clitoris (very rare) The following health conditions are common in women with PCOS: Insulin resistance and diabetes High blood pressure High cholesterol Weight gain and obesity Your provider will check your weight and body mass index (BMI) and measure your belly size. Blood tests can be done to check hormone levels. These tests may include: Estrogen level FSH level LH level Male hormone ( testosterone ) level Other blood tests that may be done include: Fasting glucose (blood sugar) and other tests for glucose intolerance and insulin resistance Lipid level Pregnancy test (serum hCG) Prolactin level Thyroid function tests Your provider may also order ultrasound of your pelvis to look at your ovaries.Weight gain and obesity are common in women with PCOS. Losing even a small amount of weight can help treat: Hormone changes Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol Your provider may prescribe birth control pills to make your periods more regular. These pills may also help reduce abnormal hair growth and acne if you take them for several months. A diabetes medicine called Glucophage (metformin) may also be prescribed to: Make your periods regular Prevent type 2 diabetes Help you lose weight Other medicines that may be prescribed to help make your periods regular and help you get pregnant are: LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs Clomiphene citrate or letrozole, which may allow your ovaries to release eggs and improve your chance of pregnancy These medicines work better if your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or less (below the obese range). Your provider may also suggest other treatments for abnormal hair growth. Some are: Spironolactone or flutamide pills Eflornithine cream Effective methods of hair removal include electrolysis and laser hair removal. However, many treatments may be needed. Treatments are expensive and the results are often not permanent. A pelvic laparoscopy may be done to remove or alter an ovary to treat infertility. This improves the chances of releasing an egg. The effects are temporary.With treatment, women with PCOS are very often able to get pregnant. During pregnancy, there is an increased risk of: Miscarriage High blood pressure Gestational diabetes.Women with PCOS are more likely to develop: Endometrial cancer Infertility Diabetes Obesity-related complications.Call your provider if you have symptoms of this disorder.Polycystic ovaries; Polycystic ovary disease; Stein-Leventhal syndrome; Polyfollicular ovarian disease; PCOS.Endocrine glands Endocrine glands Pelvic laparoscopy Pelvic laparoscopy Female reproductive anatomy Female reproductive anatomy Stein-Leventhal syndrome Stein-Leventhal syndrome Uterus Uterus Follicle development Follicle development.Bulun SE. Physiology and pathology of the female reproductive axis.