PCO

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common cause of anovulation and infertility in women. Women with this syndrome do not ovulate regularly and have ovaries that contain multiple small cystic structures, usually about 4-9 mm in diameter. This gives the ovaries a characteristic appearance on ultrasound.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome causes irregularities in the menstrual cycle, and sometimes a total lack of periods - amenorrhea.

The basic problem is that although the polycystic ovaries contain many follicles with eggs, the follicles do not develop and mature properly so that they do not ovulate. Women without polycystic ovaries normally develop one mature follicle each month which ovulates (releases) one egg.

Women with polycystic ovaries are often hyperandrogenic as well. This means that their ovaries produce an excess amount of male hormones testosterone and androstenedione which can cause increased hair growth - hirsutism, and sometimes other problems as well.

The typical story seen in women with polycystic ovaries is irregular menstrual cycles, onset of hirsutism in the teens or early 20s, and gradually worsening excess hair growth.

When they attempt to get pregnant, women with polycystic ovaries will usually have difficulty. Some women with this disorder will ovulate (release a mature egg) occasionally, others do not ovulate at all. In order to conceive, sperm must be able to find and fertilize a mature egg. Therefore, they will usually need to undergo induction of ovulation to get pregnant.

The good news is that pregnancy rates are high for women with this condition. The large majority will be able to have a baby, if they will undergo treatment. Many will be able to get pregnant using clomiphene citrate tablets to induce ovulation. This is often given by general gynecologists. About 75% of women with polycystic ovaries will ovulate with clomiphene, but only about 40% will get pregnant with it.

If this fails after about 6-9 ovulatory cycles, the next step is usually injectable gonadotropins. About 90% of women that do not ovulate with clomiphene will ovulate with this medication. The majority will get pregnant as well.

If this fails after about 3-6 ovulatory cycles, the next step is usually in vitro fertilization. The majority of women with polycystic ovaries that have not gotten pregnant with the above treatments will conceive with IVF.

This definition is from: Advanced Fertility