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Overview of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Tirohanga whānui ki te rarunga ruawahinetanga

A diagram showing the difference between a polycystic and a healthy ovaryPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects the way your ovaries work. It is common, affecting 5 to 10% of women.

When you have PCOS you have:

Despite the name, you can have lots of cysts on your ovaries without having PCOS. You can also have PCOS without any cysts on your ovaries.

Having PCOS means you may have a higher risk of being overweight, mental health issues, diabetes and heart disease. So, regular check-ups with your general practice team are important.

Causes of PCOS

We do not fully understand what causes PCOS, but it seems to involve a mix of factors.

Symptoms of PCOS

Signs and symptoms of PCOS usually start around the time of puberty through to your early 20s. The main symptoms include:

Sometimes you can have PCOS with no symptoms.

Being overweight is common, but it is not caused by the PCOS. You might also have depression, anxiety or low self-esteem because of the physical symptoms of PCOS.

Diagnosing PCOS

Your general practice team will ask you about your symptoms, periods and medical history. They may suggest some tests such as:

To diagnose PCOS, your doctor will need to find 2 out of 3 of the following:

Treating PCOS

Lifestyle changes are often helpful to help with the effects of PCOS such as weight gain and the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

There are several medicine options to help with symptoms. These include medicines to regulate periods, reduce excessive hair growth and treat acne.

See Treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) for more information.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

On the next page: Treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Written by the Department of Endocrinology, Christchurch Hospital. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2025.

Sources

See also:

Irregular periods

Overview of the female reproductive system

Page reference: 70671

Review key: HIPCO-15994