Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal imbalance in women who have higher than normal levels of male hormones. It affects 10% of women of childbearing age and is a leading cause of infertility in women.
This syndrome can cause a wide range of symptoms and to be officially diagnosed you must have irregular periods, high levels of male hormones and ovaries with multiple cysts. Recognizing the symptoms can help you get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
“Women with PCOS typically have an imbalance in sex hormones, hunger hormones, as well as insulin resistance,” says Vandana Sheth, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a dietitian in private practice in Los Angeles. “All of these factors can make losing weight very challenging.”
