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If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you probably have irregular menstrual periods or no periods at all. That's because your ovaries aren't releasing eggs regularly.

There are other symptoms of PCOS, but having irregular periods is the most common one. However, it's possible to have PCOS and not have many symptoms. About half of the women who have PCOS only have one or two of the symptoms we talk about on this page.¹

More than 7 in 10 women with PCOS have irregular periods, few periods or none at all.² Doctors say you have periods less often than usual if you have nine or fewer periods in a year.³

Most women have a menstrual cycle that lasts for about 25 to 35 days. That's the time from the start of one period to the start of the next. If you have PCOS, and you do have periods, you'll probably find that your cycle is longer than that.

You may find that, when you do have periods, they're heavy and last for a long time.² That's because, when you're not releasing eggs, the lining of your womb may build up. Then, when you do have a period, your womb lining is thicker than it would be otherwise. Getting rid of this extra lining means your bleeding is heavier and lasts longer. But not everyone with PCOS gets heavy periods. Some women find their periods are light.⁴

It can be annoying not knowing when you're likely to get a period. Not knowing when you will have your period makes it hard to plan things. However, most girls have irregular periods for a year or so after they go through puberty.⁵

PCOS is one of the main reasons why women find it hard to get pregnant.² It is harder to get pregnant if you have PCOS because your ovaries aren't releasing eggs (ovulating) regularly. But many women with PCOS do have children, with or without medical help. For some women who are overweight, losing weight can be enough to help them get pregnant.² Other women need fertility treatments.

To read more about getting pregnant if you have PCOS, see What will happen to me?

Some of the other symptoms that you may get if you have PCOS are:^{1 3 4 5}

• More hair than usual on your face, neck, chest, abdomen, back, bikini area, arms and legs. Doctors sometimes call this hirsutism. You'll probably find that the hair is thicker and darker than the other hair on your body. About 7 in 10 women with PCOS have unwanted hair. You may notice this more if you have dark hair
• Skin problems. You may get greasy skin. Some women get pimples (acne) on their face, back or shoulders
• Being overweight, especially around your waist. About half of women with PCOS are very overweight (obese)
• You might have patches of raised, velvety-feeling skin. It may be darker than the skin around it. You might get it on the back of your neck, inside your elbows or between your breasts. This is called acanthosis nigricans.
• You might find that the hair on the top of your head grows thinner or starts to fall out.

Women with PCOS often find their symptoms very upsetting. Some women say that they feel as if they are not a 'proper woman' because of their symptoms.⁶ In one study, women with PCOS said they were most upset by having unwanted hair on their body or face, not having periods, and worrying about not being able to have children.⁶

If you find any of your symptoms distressing, it's important that you tell your doctor. He or she may not realize how much your symptoms upset you. Some women with PCOS say they feel doctors don't always take their symptoms seriously.⁶

You might have had fairly regular periods for a few years. Then you might have noticed them getting less frequent.² Other symptoms of PCOS can also change over time. Some of the things that may affect your symptoms are:⁵

• Your weight. You may find your symptoms are worse when you're overweight. You might get more hair on your face, or more pimples (acne)
• Medications you are taking. Some drugs work in a similar way to your hormones. Drugs can have side effects that are similar to the symptoms of PCOS. Other drugs may help your symptoms. For example, some types of birth control pill can help reduce unwanted hair or oily skin
• Pregnancy. Being pregnant changes the balance of hormones in your body. Anything that alters your hormones can affect your symptoms of PCOS.²

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. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.