Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects nearly one in ten women of childbearing age.  PCOS can affect a woman's menstrual cycle, her heart, blood vessels, and appearance...even her ability to have children.  PCOS also increases the risk for endometrial cancer. With such serious consequences, women with PCOS are encouraged to learn more about the condition and to manage their symptoms to prevent future problems.

So just what is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome literally means "many cysts in the ovaries".  In most cases, a cyst on the ovary does no harm and goes away by itself. In fact, most women will experience at least one ovarian cyst sometime during their lives ... but women diagnosed with PCOS experience many small cysts in the ovaries over longer periods of time. These cysts, or fluid-filled sacs, can hurt and cause pain.  Learn more about the common symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome here.