Polysystic ovaries...?

Question

I was wondering what polysistic ovaries are...cause I am going to the doctor in a couple of days to get checked for it...but i dont know if this is true but my sister has it and i heard that it was likley that if one sister has it , the other does to..? Just wondering if thats true, and does anyone know signs of it? Any help is appriciated thanks

Answer 1

They're most common in younger women. All it means is that your ovaries are prone to many cysts, or to having them frequently. The cysts are almost always "luteal cysts", or what is left after the egg leaves it's "holding place" in the ovary (called the "corpus luteum", or "yellow body"). The cause it most often an excess of androgen (male hormone), which there are tests for. In rare cases, a tumor may be the cause.

When those cysts don't disappear as they normally should, they can swell with fluid, causing pain. Sometimes they even rupture, which is VERY serious! If you ever get severe pain, call an ambulance, as you could bleed out in about 1/2 hr!

There is a variety of treatments for these, including oral contraceptives or hormones which cause you to stop ovulating. The problems, other than common side effects in some women, is that hormones basically put your ovaries "on hold"! That is, they stop developing, which usually continues 'til you're in your early 20's. Once you go off the hormones, your ovaries will still be immature. The problem may return.

For more explanation of this syndrome and treatments for it, visit this website:

http://obgyn.health.ivillage.com/uterineovarianhealth/polycysticovariansyndrome.cfm

They have great graphics, a video and many sources and links.