HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Polycystic 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.
We do not fully understand what causes PCOS, but it seems to involve a mix of factors.
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.
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:
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
This website provides information about polycystic ovary syndrome. It has a forum that allows you to discuss topics with other women, researchers and health professionals. AskPCOS is also available as an app that you can download from Google Play or the Apple Store.
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.
Review key: HIPCO-15994