Signs and Symptoms
PCOS includes a heterogeneous collection of signs and symptoms with varying degree of mildness and severity in affecting the reproductive, endocrine and metabolic functions. The classic triad of the disorder includes hirsutism, menstrual dysfunction, and obesity. Some common symptoms of PCOS include:
- Menstrual disorders: PCOS mostly produces oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, but other types of menstrual disorders may also occur.
- Infertility: This generally results directly from chronic anovulation (lack of ovulation).
- Hyperandrogenism: The most common signs are acne and hirsutism (male pattern of hair growth), but it may produce hypermenorrhea (very frequent menstrual periods) or other symptoms. Approximately three-quarters of patients with PCOS (by the diagnostic criteria of NIH/NICHD 1990) have evidence of hyperandrogenemia.
- Metabolic syndrome: This appears as a tendency towards central obesity and other symptoms associated with insulin resistance. Serum insulin, insulin resistance and homocysteine levels are higher in women with PCOS.
| Symptom | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Oligomenorrea | 29-52% |
| Amenorrea | 19-51% |
| Hirsutism | 64-69% |
| Obesity | 35-41% |
| Acne | 27-35% |
| Alopecia | 3-6% |
| Acanthosis nigricans | <1-3% |
| Infertility | 20-74% |
| Elevated Serum LH | 40-51% |
| Elevated testosterone | 29-50% |
Read more about this topic: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
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