Polycystic Ovaries
What are polycystic ovaries?
PCO are ovaries which contain an excessive number of primordial
follicles. Primordial follicles are tiny fluid filled sacs which
contain the eggs. An ultrasound of the ovaries during the reproductive
years usually shows on average 4-12 follicles in each ovary.
When more than 15 follicles are present, the ovary is called
"polycystic". This should not be confused with polycystic ovarian
syndrome (PCOS).This is a condition which describes a
disturbance of many blood hormones, weight gain and excess hair
growth which is more commonly associated with severe PCO, ie
30-50 follicles in each ovary.
What is the cause of polycystic ovaries?
In a normal menstrual cycle there are usually 5-10 follicles
at the beginning of the cycle. Later in the cycle usually
around day 14, one follicle gets bigger (leading follicle)
and shortly thereafter ovulation takes place with release
of the egg. The remaining eggs regress and disappear before
the next cycle. These events are usually after every 4 weeks
and result in the monthly menstrual bleed. With polycystic
ovaries, this cyclical sequence of events does not take place.
Instead, no leading egg develops and there is a build up of
small immature follicles with successive cycles. Despite extensive
research no single cause explains this variation from normal.
How common are Polycystic Ovaries?
This is a very common condition and it is estimated that about
one in three women between the ages of 13-50 years have this
condition.
Is this a serious condition?
This is not a serious condition; in fact the vast majority
of patients do not require any form of treatment.
What sort of problems may polycystic
ovaries cause?
For most patients it causes no problems and the condition
goes unnoticed. For some patients, particularly those with
>30 or so follicles, the following symptoms may develop:
- Infertility
- Infrequent or Irregular periods
- Acne
- Increased Facial Hair
Is there any treatment for this condition?
If however you are having difficulty getting pregnant or having
menstrual problems there is a wide range of treatment options
and most have high success rates. These may be discussed fully
with your family doctor or specialist.
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