Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS or PCO, is a very common endocrine disorder that affects around 10% of women and accounts for 7% of all cases of anovulatory infertility. PCOS refers to the development of multiple cysts on the ovaries, which are fluid-filled sacs in the ovary. On ultrasound scans, about a quarter of all women will show polycystic ovaries, but not all will display the other symptoms which are commonly associated with PCOS.

The severity of symptoms varies greatly amongst PCOS patients. The ovaries of women suffering from PCOS secrete an excessive amount of androgens which stimulates the development of several ovarian follicles that do not respond to FSH, thus preventing the selection of a dominant follicle and the release of the egg. During a normal menstrual cycle, a woman produces several follicles, but a hormonal signal induces the selection of a dominant follicle to release the egg a few days later. This mechanism is disrupted in PCOS patients, which means that the hormones of women who are suffering from PCOS are out of balance.

A lot of different symptoms exists when it comes to PCOS and all vary greatly with each individual. The symptoms of women suffering from PCOS include acne, obesity, high cholesterol levels, excessive hair growth in the face and / or the body (especially on the back, the chest and the belly), elevated blood pressure and irregular or no menstrual periods. Monitoring your ovulation is therefore a very useful way of timing baby-making intercourse and increasing your chances of conceiving. Using urine tests for LH to detect your ovulation are usually not very efficient, however, as LH levels are not well regulated in PCOS patients, and there is a risk that the test will yield inaccurate results. On the other hand, biphasic temperature patterns are seen in many PCOS patients, which means that careful monitoring of BBT using the fertility monitor DuoFertility can make it easier for patients to accurately plan baby-making intercourse during their fertile days. If you would like further information, please contact our team of fertility experts.

Read more about fertility problems

Read more about anovulation

Read more about primary and secondary infertility