PCOS is characterized by enlarged ovaries with multiple small painless cysts that form in the ovaries. PCOS can also be associated with uterine cancer. Most women become symptomatic of PCOS at the onset of menstruation, but the syndrome can develop throughout their child-bearing years. Although many of the symptoms are related to the female reproductive system, PCOS is a disorder of the endocrine system. A specialist familiar with the syndrome, such as a reproductive endocrinologist, should be consulted to confirm diagnosis.
Doctors can only treat the individual symptoms.
The precise cause of PCOS is unknown, although susceptibility to the syndrome is often inherited. It is important for women with PCOS to know that while there is no cure, the symptoms can be treated so that they can lead healthier, more satisfying lifestyles.