Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
(PCOS, POS, POD, Stein-Leventhal Syndrome)
Revising Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Revising Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Previous Contributing Medical Editor: Carolyn J. Crandall,
MD
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Weight Gain and PCOS
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
A Viewer Asks: I have gained a serious amount of weight since the loss of my periods and my doctor believes I have
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Do women who are treated for this condition lose the weight they gained due to PCOS?
Dr. Stöppler's Answer: It is still being debated whether the
weight gain is what caused the
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) to emerge, or whether PCOS causes weight gain. It is known that obesity, sometimes even beginning in childhood, is present in about half of women with PCOS.
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What is polycystic ovarian syndrome?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), also known by the name Stein-Leventhal
syndrome, is a hormonal problem that causes women to have a variety of symptoms.
What are the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
The symptoms of PCOS include:
- Irregular or no menstrual periods
- Acne
- Obesity, and
- Excess hair growth
Other signs and symptoms of PCOS include:
- abnormal hair growth and distribution.
Any of the above
symptoms and signs may be absent in PCOS, with the exception of irregular or no
menstrual periods. All women with PCOS will have
irregular or no menstrual
periods. Women who have PCOS do not regularly ovulate; that is, they do not
release an egg every month. This is why they do not have regular periods.
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Weight Gain and PCOS
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
A Viewer Asks: I have gained a serious amount of weight since the loss of my periods and my doctor believes I have
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Do women who are treated for this condition lose the weight they gained due to PCOS?
Dr. Stöppler's Answer: It is still being debated whether the
weight gain is what caused the
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) to emerge, or whether PCOS causes weight gain. It is known that obesity, sometimes even beginning in childhood, is present in about half of women with PCOS.
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What causes polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
No one is quite sure what causes PCOS. Although women with PCOS often have a
mother or sister with the condition, there is not enough scientific evidence to
prove that the condition may be inherited. The ovaries of women with PCOS
frequently contain a number of small cysts, hence the name poly (many) cystic
ovarian syndrome. A similar number of cysts may occur in women without PCOS.
Therefore, the cysts themselves do not seem to be the cause of the problem. A
malfunction of the body's blood sugar control system (insulin system) is
frequent in women with PCOS, and researchers believe that these abnormalities
may be related to the development of PCOS. It is known that the ovaries of
women with PCOS produce excess amounts of male hormone known as
androgen. This
excessive production of male hormones may be a result of the abnormalities in
insulin production.
Next: How is polycystic ovarian syndrome diagnosed? »
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