Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - UR International

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones that causes problems in the ovaries. The egg of a woman with PCOS may not develop or be released during ovulation as it should, preventing pregnancy.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is one of the most common causes of infertility in women and we have a specialised unit for its treatment. Symptoms include delayed menstruation, irregular or widely separated menstrual periods, weight gain, high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and diabetes.

Diagnosis and treatment

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome does not mean that pregnancy cannot be achieved.

Diagnosis is a combination of medical history, physical examination, ultrasound and blood tests. On ultrasound, many women with PCOS show larger than usual sized ovaries with many small cysts. Blood tests may show elevated blood levels of sugar, cholesterol or male hormones.

Diagnosis and individual patient circumstances will reveal different treatment options:

  • Weight loss to help regularise your menstrual cycle and improve your fertility.
  • Medications that provoke ovulation under the rigorous control of our specialists, avoiding an excessive response that could increase the risk of a multiple pregnancy.
  • In vitro fertilisation in case other treatments do not work. This treatment offers higher pregnancy rates with the transfer of a single embryo, and better control over the risk of having twins or triplets.
  • Surgery, recommended only when other options fail. In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, the outer layer of the ovaries becomes thicker, which may be related to the suppression of spontaneous ovulation. Ovarian incision is an intervention in which several “perforations” are made in the surface of the ovary by laser to restore ovulation for a short period of time ranging from 6 to 8 weeks.

Let’s talk! 40 years nurturing life!