Read up on Polycystic ovary syndrome treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Key points about treatments

If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it means your hormones are out of balance. This can affect your periods, your weight and the way hair on your body grows. PCOS also makes it harder for you to get pregnant.

You might find having polycystic ovary syndrome upsetting, and feel embarrassed by symptoms like unwanted hair. But you're not the only woman who's had these feelings. PCOS is quite a common condition. And although there's no cure exactly, there are some good treatments that can help with the symptoms. You might need different treatments over time, depending on the symptoms you get and whether you want to get pregnant.

Key messages about treating polycystic ovary syndrome

If you don't want to get pregnant, the first treatment you'll be offered will probably be the birth control pill. The hormones in birth control pills can help with the symptoms of PCOS.
If you are trying to get pregnant, there are several treatments that can help. For example, you can have hormone treatments as pills or shots. If these don't work, you can try in vitro fertilization (IVF). You might also have a type of laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery) that aims to help your ovaries release eggs. We look at treatments to help you get pregnant in our section on Fertility problems. Also, simply losing weight may help you get pregnant if you are overweight and have PCOS.
There are several drugs you can take that may help with unwanted hair. These include metformin, spironolactone and finasteride.
Metformin and birth control pills may also help you have regular periods.
There are some things you can do for yourself that could help your symptoms. For example, losing weight might help. But there's not much research on this.
Some of the treatments we talk about for PCOS can help if you get pimples. There are also creams and other treatments that can help get rid of pimples. To read more, see our information on Acne.

This information was last updated on Mar 06, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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