Patient's question:
I've been married for several years, and so far, we haven't had any children. I'm very anxious about it and don't know if it's my problem. I've asked my husband to get checked, but he refuses. I'm afraid my condition might worsen. Can you please tell me if Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can affect the time of pregnancy?Doctor's answer:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as polycystic ovary disease, is a condition whose causes remain unclear. Currently, the medical community believes that it is primarily related to endocrine dysfunction. It is often triggered by factors such as mental stress, drug abuse, or other diseases, leading to endocrine disorders in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. This disrupts the balance of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secreted by the pituitary gland. Due to the decrease in FSH and the increase in LH, the ovarian follicles fail to develop and mature, preventing ovulation, which results in the formation of cystic follicles and eventually leads to polycystic ovaries. Clinically, it is characterized by a syndrome of chronic anovulation, amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea, infertility, obesity, hirsutism, and polycystic enlargement of the ovaries. Diagnosis can be confirmed through ultrasound examinations and hormone level tests. Western medicine typically employs hormone-based medications for treatment.