How does PCOS affect fertility?
A woman’s ovaries have follicles, which are tiny, fluid-filled sacs that hold the eggs. When an egg is mature, the follicle breaks open to release the egg so it can travel to the uterus for fertilization. In women with PCOS, immature follicles bunch together to form large cysts or lumps. The eggs mature within the bunched follicles, but the follicles don’t break open to release them. As a result, women with PCOS often have menstrual irregularities, such as amenorrhea (they don’t get menstrual periods) or oligomenorrhea (they only have periods now and then). Because the eggs are not released, most women with PCOS have trouble getting pregnant. What are the symptoms of PCOS? In addition to infertility, women with PCOS may also have: • Pelvic pain • Hirsutism, or excess hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, thumbs, or toes • Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair • Acne, oily skin, or dandruff • Patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin Also, women who are obese are more likely
