]]> http://www.2getpregnant.com/114/to-get-pregnant/how-to-get-pregnant-unedited-have-sex-and-have-it-often/feed/ 1 http://www.2getpregnant.com/75/getting-pregnant/ttc-1-my-introduction/ http://www.2getpregnant.com/75/getting-pregnant/ttc-1-my-introduction/#comments Sat, 29 May 2010 14:27:48 +0000 Sarah Kitchener http://www.2getpregnant.com/75/getting-pregnant/ttc-1-my-introduction/ What is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? Polycystic ovary syndrome (say “pah-lee-SIS-tik OH-vuh-ree SIN-drohm”) is a problem in which a womans hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS may also cause unwanted changes in the way you look. If it is not treated, over time it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. Polycystic ovary syndrome (or PCOS) is common, affecting as many as 1 in 15 women. Often the symptoms begin in the teen years. Treatment can help control the symptoms and prevent long-term problems. What are hormones, and what happens in PCOS? Hormones are chemical messengers that trigger many different processes, including growth and energy production. Often, the job of one hormone is to signal the release of another hormone. For reasons that are not well understood, in PCOS the hormones get out of balance. One hormone change triggers another, which changes another. This makes a vicious circle of out-of-balance hormones. For example: * The sex hormones get out of balance. Normally, the ovaries make a tiny amount of male sex hormones (androgens). In PCOS, they start making slightly more androgens. This may cause you to stop ovulating, get acne, and grow extra facial and body hair. * The body may have a problem using insulin, called insulin resistance. When the body doesn’t use insulin well, blood sugar levels go up. Over time, this increases your chance of …

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